New Alternator Has problems Charging at Idle Options

[barterj]

Tonight while driving around boston, my battery light started to go on and off. I was like great, my alternator that i just got a week ago is a dud. BUT, the battery light was coming on when the engine rpms was over about 3.5k, ALSO the lights would get really bright, all the lights. My father told me he thinks its the voltage regulator from what i told him, which is in the alternator. Anyone have any ideas, looking for any second opinions and or agreement with what my father told me, thanks.

This post has been edited by barterj: Feb 17, 2011 - 6:32 PM

[barterj]

I get my alternators from autozone. Sometimes the rebuilds are hit or miss, but with the lifetime warranty, you can always take it back if it ever fails.

Also when buying your alternator, make sure to buy the 80amp automatic trans alternator, vs the 70amp manual trans version. They are the same price and the extra 10 amps makes a huge difference.

Yeah, all the ones i've had have been crap, but i have a friend that works a toyota dealership as a mechanic and he told me he can get me one for 170

About the 80amp, autozone won't let me get that one because they said it voids the warranty somehow, i could understand putting a lower amp alternator in my car voiding the warranty, but a stronger one...who knows

I'm gonna try one more from autozone, and it doesn't work i'm going back to a factory alt.