"mazda616" (mazda616)
07/17/2020 at 22:05 • Filed to: Jolene the Sunbird
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"mazda616" (mazda616)
07/17/2020 at 22:05 • Filed to: Jolene the Sunbird | 7
| 12 |
My Papaw and I replaced Jolene’s alternator tonight and the horrific squeal/squeak sound she was making is now gone. The old alternator was still charging but was on the verge of seizing due to failed bearings inside of it - hence the noise. And, that alternator itself was a remanufactured unit. So, this is at least Jolene’s third alternator in 30 years.
The replacement was a lot more involved than we expected, with several brackets and bolts and the coolant overflow tank having to be removed or adjusted out of the way.
My Papaw is an amazing small engine mechanic. He can fix anything. He has a side business working on lawn mowers, tillers, pressure washers, etc. and selling them.
He does not like working on cars, though, but I’m the exception. Ha. This is the second alternator we’ve replaced in this backyard, with the first being my ‘92 Beretta’s in 2006.
The last pic is the amazing view from their backyard at sunset. Ah, Kentucky.
Also ...there was an intermittent “check engine” light on in the car before and recently it had started coming on and staying on a LOT more. I drove all the way home with the new alternator tonight and it didn’t come on once. I don’t know that a failing alternator could trigger a “check engine” light and not a charge light on an OBD1 car, though. So, it was probably a coincidence.
dogisbadob
> mazda616
07/17/2020 at 22:23 |
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snazzy valve cover gasket
jminer
> mazda616
07/17/2020 at 22:25 |
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There are a lot of random sensors in an early 90's gm car and I imagine more than a few don’t take too kindle to unstable voltage. Fingers crossed it was just your alternator making one of them angry and the car’s ECU not being smart enough to figure out that was the problem.
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mazda616
> dogisbadob
07/17/2020 at 22:29 |
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Right? Smurf blue...
shop-teacher
> mazda616
07/17/2020 at 23:53 |
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Job done!
MoCamino
> mazda616
07/18/2020 at 01:16 |
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I used to have a Sunbird of that vintage and did that very repair with limited tools in an apartment complex parking lot. I was AMAZED at how difficult that job was. It seemed everything in the engine compartment was conspiring to block access to the alternator. It looks like it should just pop right out but it doesn't. I hope no small children were nearby because I uttered a lot of unkind words that day. Good job! :)
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mazda616
> MoCamino
07/18/2020 at 03:33 |
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We called this one SEVERAL names and none of them were good. What got me was the fact that when you look at it, you think “Ok. Take old alternator out and put new alternator in.” But instead, there are like 20 other things you have to move or remove first. And since the car is so old, some of the bolt sizes weren’t right (the job has been done before, many years ago, and likely some originals were lost).
pip bip - choose Corrour
> mazda616
07/18/2020 at 07:36 |
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new drive belt too?
old-busted-hotness-still-cant-comment
> MoCamino
07/18/2020 at 08:26 |
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Ain’t it nice of them to make it look easy, though?
Dr.Jeckyl
> mazda616
07/18/2020 at 09:09 |
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I’m not sure if it’s the same for GM products . But I had a Jeep Cherokee OBD1 and the alternator caused a check engine light. I’m not sure they do it anymore but Chrysler products could read their own codes by flipping the key on and off several times.
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mazda616
> pip bip - choose Corrour
07/18/2020 at 09:13 |
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New A/C belt last weekend. New drive belt last October.
Fuckkinja
> mazda616
07/19/2020 at 10:49 |
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My uncle got his Z-Bird out for a cruise last night. It promptly threw a rod.
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mazda616
> Fuckkinja
07/19/2020 at 15:43 |
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That sucks!