I’ve had to do it twice actually, once because I made the mistake of buying a crappy rebuilt alternator from some McParts place when no-place else was open. You can always listen to the radio while you’re waiting for the tow truck.
The point is that simple is always better than complex, always. Reading the posts on this forum is enough to verify that I never need to own a Nintendo game with wheels.
I could disconnect my battery and alternator, and drive my car indefinitely (once it’s started). I once drove from IA to CO with a failed alternator and nearly dead battery.
Why would I want to when I could just maintain the car and make that kind of stunt unnecessary?
Personally, I would rather not get stranded by the side of the road than have a car that I can fix by the side of the road.
Sorry, alternators do fail occasionally. Do you replace your alternators as preventive maintenance? I do replace voltage regulator/ brush assemblies when they wear, but alternators are (unfortunately) one electronic device that’s pretty necessary.
Personally, I would rather be able to keep driving than be stranded by some unnecessary technology.
Jeremy:
I don’t need to get a grip. I understand the concept of unibody construction. If you think a Honda or any other unibody is made from onepiece of metal you need to go back to school.
“Sheet metal body parts are combined with stress-bearing elements to form the body and chasis as one piece”. how do you think they COMBINE those parts. Little clue they weld them together. They do not start out as one piece.
~Michael
Clearly you don’t live in the colder climes…and if I have my way I soon won’t either.
Seriously, when it’s below zero degrees F out you’re gonna need gloves. Or lots of patience.
We have a whole 'nother thread about diesels.
I don’t remember the last time I wore gloves while driving. If it’s 0F outside, I start the car, put on the heat, and go make myself a pot of coffee. By the time I finish my second cup, it’s nice and toasty in the car.
A couple of people have danced around it without stating it so I will. Carb?ed engines with mechanical ignition (meaning points and distributor, OR a magneto) are very likely to run like crap for a long time before complete failure while the more modern replacements can leave you stranded in a heartbeat. Would I trade? No way!
And N.B., with a gasoline engine, I don?t need no stinking ALTERNATOR or even electronic ignition or even those complicated points and condenser so long as no one takes my MAGNETO away.
"A couple of people have danced around it without stating it so I will. Carb?ed engines with mechanical ignition (meaning points and distributor, OR a magneto) are very likely to run like crap for a long time before complete failure while the more modern replacements can leave you stranded in a heartbeat. Would I trade? No way! "
I would trade fuel injection for carbs. As a matter of fact, I have removed fuel injection systems and installed multi-carbs on engines. Much more fun to play with. I can live with simple electronic ignitions on gas engines, but not computerized engine controls.
Naughty! Naughty! You are not being very green with this practice.
I don’t live my life based on fear of something that might never happen. My car is 10 years old with 177,000 miles and the original alternator is going strong. Besides, having to call a tow truck for the one in one thousand chance that my alternator will leave me stranded isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me and I don’t quake in my boots at the mere thought that it could happen some day. I guess if I lived in fear of the extremely rare inconvenience, I would go out of my way to live in the past too.
So you don’t see the distinction between a frame that is welded to the body and a body that serves the same function as the frame? I was simply talking about an application where the frame and body are welded together but they are both clearly distinguishable as separate items. I was taking about one thing and you are talking about the other. I guess the distinction is beyond your level of comprehension.
What happens if you have a frame that you weld to the body, but the body doesn’t support the weight like in unibody construction? What if the body doesn’t share the weight-bearing like in unibody construction but they are welded together simply because it is better than using bolts? Is that really the same thing as unibody construction? I don’t think so. With unibody construction, the body shares the same FUNCTION as the frame. In the application which I was talking about, it doesn’t. Have I FINALLY explained myself clearly enough? I WAS NOT TALKING ABOUT UNIBODY CONSTRUCTION! Your attempt to discredit me by changing the subject has been unsuccessful, so give it up.
Cool, you should do whatever makes you comfortable and I’ll do the same. My original alternator lasted about 250K miles, hopefully I’ve got a couple of 100K left in this one too. I’m only at 26 years/417K miles now, so I shouldn’t have to worry about it again for a little while. Hope so anyway, next week I’m leaving on a nice little 5000 mile road trip.
Not worth my time.
~Michael
Maybe it’s because I’m on my second glass of Blush Chablis tonight and my thinking is clouded, but I’m not following Jeremy at all.
I’m curious about something Jeremy. What type of car has body panels or floor pans welded to a separate frame?
I have had 4 Coronas but I was confused with his explanation before I started drinking. I tried to figure out again a few minutes ago but I don’t remember any manufacturer welding the body directly to the frame instead of using bolts.
~Michael
If memory serves, I think I remember seeing a 2002 Dodge Neon that looked like it had a frame with a body welded to it. My 98 Civic definitely looks like that when I climb underneath it.
When I look into the definition of unibody construction, I find the history of cars designed in the 1960s in which the frame was effectively eliminated by using a body that essentially served as both frame and body. When I look at the design of most modern cars, like the Honda Civic and the Dodge Neon, they look like the frame and body are attached, but are still distinguishable. If these are also called “unibody construction,” cool, I could appreciate that I learned something new if you simply took the time to explain why that is the case.
His car isn’t new enough to follow the “green” practices. If I was driving a pre-fuel injection antique, I would warm it up too.
Actually, my daily driver is an old diesel, but it does like to be warmed up a little before it’s driven (maybe 30 seconds). The coffee break is mostly because I like to be warmed up a little (I’m older than the car).
They fail…but after how LONG…The last alternator I replaced was on my 84 S-15. 4 vehicles and over 1-million miles…and no replacements. 300-400k miles on a alternator I consider pretty reliable.