13 replies to this topic

[Evo-00x]

Hi guys
I just got reminded about this from reading Dre's WTB thread
Im after a 90A or more alternator to suit 4G63 VR4 / EVO engine. Must be in good working condition otherwise I'll put a hex on you for the remainder of the year.
Im sure the 90's came out on Auto's and I think the Hyundais ran 90A's as well.
Dont get much time to go searching at the wreckers either.
My current alternator works 100% but its 70A or whatever OEM GVR4 is, and now that Im running more electronics and drawing more power simutaneously I can do with an upgrade over OEM.
cheers

[evo-gsr]

If you get stuck let me know...There's a few at my local wreckers.

[Evo-00x]

Thanks Jamo. I'll give it time in this WTB thread and if all fails I might have to call in a favour.
The US boys upgrade to some other car's alternator with a minor mod so I will have to read up on that too.

[evo-gsr]

No probs....Theres a few to choose from down here...

[Chaser]

can get brand new units for roughly 400. let me know and i could get a exact costing.

[JayRome]

Saturn Alt from USA fits well with minor mods...

have you upgraded the wiring to your alt? and added better grounding?

[Evo-00x]

Wiring to the alternator was upgraded to thicker OFC cable during the rebuild. As part of the rebuild even all the earth cables were changed and a couple more added. Battery was also moved to the boot with new 2g thick cabling to the starter and also an 8g to the fuel pump via fused 30A relay. All those main power wires have been changed and the car has been running perfectly fine. However its still the stock 70A alternator and Ive got to run new gauges, UEGO Air/fuel, electronic boost controller, 4 coil system, aftermarket ECU, idle control, power to the Varex, a fuel pump that draws more power, projector headlights, and Im yet to upgrade the alarm and stereo install. I dont think the Yellow Top Optima was getting as good as a charge that i should because it'll die within 2 weeks of sitting dormant in the garage and I'ld need to trickle charge it up again. I took the battery to Battery World and left it with them overnight to run some tests and they said it was perfectly fine. Electrcially everything in the car runs fine too. Therefore I suspect with the additional electrics the 70A is just missing out on providing enough charge to keep the battery happy.
Yep I started reading about the Saturn Alt one night when surfing the web... then was starting to nod off and havent picked up from where I left off yet lol

[evo-gsr]

Those Yellow Top Optimas are definitely not all they are made out to be...For the price you pay for them I think they are over rated.

[DOUGMO]

Is there any current draw when the car is off?

[bazeng]

2 weeks sitting is great! My vr4 dies after one night!
It is related to current draw when of more than alternator not charging enough imo.

i probably have a sticky relay somewhere.
Yours is probably just your alarm.

[Evo-00x]

You could be on to something there Baz. I did have a dodgey circuit breaker switch (you know the ones I installed in the boot from Jaycar? (see attached pic)). I only replaced it with a brand new one not long after the car was repainted and just before I took the car off the road to do my gearbox/turbo/cam/fuel line upgrade. It never occured to me to see if it fixed the problem. Im not far off installing the engine and gearbox back into the car though. Just need a few fuel fittings ordered this week and its going back in. How about I wait and see til it's running again eh? lol

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[jack be nimble]

Looking at my collection, Jumbuck use 70a (4g15 and potential source and should fit) and manual 96ish (like blob eye one) Hyundai sonata 4g63 or g4cs use 75a. Autos are probably bigger.

[JayRome]

your alt is fine, you have a issue with current draw while everything is off... although 2 weeks standby time is awesome!

Alarm?
audio?
aftermarket ecu?

[Evo-00x]

Wow, I would have thought 2 weeks was pretty crap considering they market these Yellow Top Optimas as having a long standby life for many months. But what they dont say is 'many months provided its not connected to anything' huh? lol
However I noticed that it would only have a 2 week life even when I switched off both circuit breakers to the starter motor and the fuel pump anyway. There would have been no current draw through the car, unless of course the circuit breaker switch was dodgey - which it was. Thats probably where the current draw occured if any at all. But if Baz and Jayrome reckon that 2 weeks standy from an Optima battery is pretty good then thats changed my perception about these deep cycle batteries. Yes they have their benefits, but their longevity on standby is fukd lol.
I'll wait and see when its up and running again as the circuit breaker has been replaced with a new one and I havent really sussed out if it fixed the problem yet.
A higher rating alternator say like a 90-100 would help charge the battery 20-30% quicker between short runs though. That'll be a benefit within itself and should cut down on the number of times having to put the buggar on auto trickle charge and have to plan my drives in advance/ lose all the stereo settings every couple of weeks The good thing with the circuit breaker is that I can switch it off and trickle charge the battery without having to remove the terminals from the battery.
Hmmm... I have a baby 12v battery here from a motorised scooter which I might be able to temporary alligator clip onto the power wire to keep the settings whilst the Optima is getting charged? Oops, the gears in my brain are starting to turn again lol

Edited by EVO-00X, 28 January 2013 - 01:08 AM.