So I blew another alternator tonight... - Page 3 - United Bimmer Community

**komodo** · 11-18-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rooz

This might be a stupid question, but it might also be the answer to your problem:

When you upgraded your alternator, did you upgrade the wires that ran after it?

No, I didn't know the wires needed to be upgraded too, since 140 is oem also. =/

**Rooz** · 11-18-2005, 10:57 PM

don't have to be, but good if it is

**c1apton** · 11-19-2005, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///95M3

get an aftermarket solar panel hood/trunk and roof. or like a fellow bf.c memeber said... switch to coal. c'mon do we really need/want all that stuff, you will be much better respected with a manny swap.

**komodo** · 11-19-2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c1apton

How do... you find all these....? haha

**c1apton** · 11-19-2005, 04:55 PM

How about these options?

**xxxbimmer** · 11-19-2005, 06:22 PM

hahahhaha

**bitcore** · 11-20-2005, 12:12 PM

Just as a contribution. the LCD screens draw hardly any current, thats why they are used in laptops. Cold cothodes arn't too bad on current draw, and the LCD circuity dosn't require a whole lot of juice (compaired to a computer processor)
Thumbscanner, I'm sure it draws next to nothing and could run off the current a 9V batter supplys.
PS2, They don't draw a lot, but I'd guess somewhere around 200-300W Computer, well, you should know how much wattage it draws prolly significantly less than 500. The subwoofer, you have a 3 farad buffer in-line with it's power source, and even if it is a 3,000 W amp (which it looks like it is not) it's not a whole lot for a 100+ amp alternator unless your bumping sine waves constantly...

Yes, there's either a big electrical fault in your system, it's not getting cooled at all, or you just got a bad alternator. I'd definately get a better\new battery. Get the biggest optima you can fit in there. Yellow top is probably what you'd want, nice compromise between electrical release characteristics and amp hours.

I'd get someone to rebuild your alternator and say what they though went wrong as well, then you could possibly tell if it was just a failure or electrical overheat.

Yes, It is strange to blow and alternator, and then blow the 2nd one you put in fairly soon after you replaced it..... something is probably wrong.

**komodo** · 11-20-2005, 03:49 PM

^^ But do you think it could just be my battery, and my alternator could be fine?

**xxxbimmer** · 11-20-2005, 04:24 PM

i doubt it you should be able to run off ur alternator....My battery was bad but as long as my car would start up the alt could keep it going

and when the alt went out did everything turn off instantly or did all your lights and electronics start to fade and then the engine shut off or what

**komodo** · 11-20-2005, 04:58 PM

No, that's the thing. I turned my car off like normal one day, and the next day, went out, got in it, turned the key to the on position, and all lights and everything come on full strength, but I turn the key to the start position and the engine doesn't turn over (doesn't even sound like it's trying.

DEATH2000 · 11-20-2005, 08:23 PM

Harry, you should really consider 2 batteries. One to run the car itself and the other to run the electronic gizmos. Or you could just have to batteries hooked up in parallel so that if one battery craped out the other would keep the car running.

Also since u upgraded the alternator, i would seriously consider uprading the wiring as well. It could be one of the causes of the problem. Also what gauage wiring are u using for the electronics any way?

**94bmw325i** · 11-20-2005, 10:06 PM

Use 0 gauge or something?

**komodo** · 11-21-2005, 02:42 AM

Check out the ever-growing "Future Modding" thread about this.

And I'm meeting Rob tomorrow morning to see if it's my battery causing the problems, or looking into whatever we need to do to fix it by Tuesday night, when I drive home for the turkey day holiday break.

**komodo** · 11-21-2005, 04:37 PM

It ended up being just a dead battery. I got lucky.

**ChrisWorrell** · 11-28-2005, 02:31 PM

did not read the responses so i apologize if this was answered but

The underdrive pulleys are actually hurting your ability to power your car. The idea behind underdrive pulleys is that it slows down the rotation of the belt, therefor the alternator pulley does not spin as much as it used to. This causes less power to be regained through the laternator then usual.

This could be some of your troubles since you have underdrive pulleys