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Alternators keep getting water damaged!

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Steve_A
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2014/03/27 19:51:55 (permalink)
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Alternators keep getting water damaged!

So I've just replaced my third alternator in as many yrs each one ruined by water getting into them! Has anyone here had this problem? The car is an 1991 NA, and I've heard this is an issue for these older cars.
 
Basically water drips straight through the left hand hole in the engine lid and straight on to the damn thing! A guy over in the UK even resorted to putting an ice cream bucket over his to keep the water away!!
 
Does the turbo engine lid have a hole in the rain guard in the same place as the NA lid? If not changing might direct the water away. At this point I'm also considering blocking up the hole completely, this might reduce airflow but considering how much these alternators cost its probably worth it.
 
Any other suggestions guys?
 
 
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    Buzza1995
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/27 20:09:37 (permalink)
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    Didn't think water should affect them I replaced 2 in mine but they were cheap oex brand and had them tested was the diode and there water tight sealed people even wash them with water often just don't buy cheap repco brand alternators I recommend jaylec brand I used one and never had an issue with power drops or water since
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    Steve_A
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/27 21:09:11 (permalink)
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    Interesting, is yours NA or Turbo and what year? There are a few different types of alternators across the models. I sent both to get them reconditioned and was told water damage was too bad to bother.
     
    Can't remember what brand Ive used but the certainly aren't cheap :(
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    Buzza1995
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/27 23:12:50 (permalink)
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    Mines a mark 3 I had similar trouble with the cheap repco brand oex alternators go more expensive brand oex was around $350 jaylec was $500 those cheap ones that put out around 60w-80w when under too much load the diode burns out also check there is nothing shorting around the charge wire normally there is a cap over the alternator charge wire and a common problem with the mark three I don't know about the sw20 is when the engine mounts flex the nut can touch the firewall and short even if the battery is not secured can short and this will/can cause a alternator diode to fail personally don't think water would be your issue because normally the diode is sealed so water can only touch the coil and magnet I suppose over time it could cause the bearings to rust and make it seize!
    Is it a cheapo chinese alternator? Maybe get a stock one rebuilt !
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    Buzza1995
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/27 23:15:02 (permalink)
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    Find a motor rewinder usually cheaper and more reliable than a new one and if it fails can take it back for repair!
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    Steve_A
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/27 23:33:45 (permalink)
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    I see what your saying, and yes your right the diode isn't the problem, its the corrosion the water causes to the coils and magnet etc. The problem isn't that the water wreaks it straight away its that it causes damage via corrosion over time. To the point that the last three alternators have only lasted a year each.
     
    The alternator is positioned in such a way that anything coming through the rain shield falls onto it, I even pulled a pine needle out of the last alternator when I had a look at it. I think that without doing something to protect  it from the elements even a top notch part is going to fail earlier then it should.
     
    I'll make sure I check the wiring as you suggest, thanks for the advice! As far as I'm aware SW20s don't have problems with mounts causing shorts but it won't hurt to make sure.
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    Buzza1995
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/28 02:38:24 (permalink)
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    Maybe you could spray it with a non conductive oil baby oil is non conductive or silicon spray not sure if that's conductive but don't think it would be the down side to that though it could build up road grime maybe a fiberglass cover would be best its non conductive though then you have a cooling issue its a hard topic does water come up from the road? If it can only get on from the engine compartment lid maybe a vent could be made to re direct water from the hole like a price of sheet metal with 2 angled sides bonded with silastic gasket glue so no holes
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    Knightrous
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    Re: Alternators keep getting water damaged! 2014/03/28 09:37:00 (permalink)
    +1 (1)
    Just build a small shield to bolt on it similar to a pod filter shield
     


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