Mud Sucks

gapguy · 12-27-2004, 11:29 PM

After kicking ass in a game of Pictionary, we all thought it would be fun to take the 4Runner out at 1am to do a little mudding. Right on, we had a lot of fun and got way dirty. Didn't get stuck, and nobody got hurt. Yay for us, right?

Well, on the way home my battery light, ABS light, and brake lights come on. It was like a Christmas tree. I immediately knew it was my Alternator. So I drive it home, and slept. Earlier today I go out and take it to the car wash to rinse everything off and remove the little mud from the alternator. Woo hoo, the light goes out. THEN all hell breaks loose. I'm driving the hour trip to Sacramento and the light comes on again. While going about 80mph in the fast lane, all power is lost, my lights dim, everything. Somehow, I make it over to the shoulder and stop. CRAP..the truck's pretty dead. I wait 2 hours for a tow truck to drive me home, the alt tests bad so I blow $266 on a new alternator, and install my new alt at 10:30pm. (I can do it in 25 minutes now, btw). Yay, the truck works and it seems to be charging properly.

Now on to my question....the alt I pulled was my 150amp Mr. Alternator..MUCH better than the 70amp I got from NAPA. What can I do to repair the old alt? Is it worth fixing? Anybody have an idea? Anybody want to buy a near new 70amp rebuilt Nippon Denso Alternator?

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jimbo74 · 12-27-2004, 11:36 PM

give mr alternator a call, and see if they will warranty it, dont tell them you wnet mudding though... and next time, put some inner mud guards or something to help cut down on exposure if its possible

Flamedx4 · 12-28-2004, 06:28 PM

Depends on what went wrong, but alternators are easy to repair. Harder may be getting parts for a "Mr Alternator" unit... I bet all that went wrong was a diode or three blew. Tear it apart and see! (First see if they will warranty it. Pity you didn't do that before buying a new one...)

gapguy · 12-30-2004, 09:19 PM

Just a little update..I took the alternator to a local shop, and they fixed it in an hour. It turns out that the brushes were entirely worn out, with no contact left. Thats pretty crazy for ~5k miles.

Anyways, $28 later my old alt works again! Now to return the new one..

**4x4Fink** · 12-30-2004, 10:11 PM

Good to hear man, mudding is a heck of a lot of fun, especially with a bunch of your good friends but it can be hell on your rig.

Not to hijack or anything but I have been looking for a high-output alternator and I'm wondering if the 150amp Mr. Alternator you have would work with my 2nd gen...are they pretty universal or would I need one made for my rig?

Hope everything else cleans off and runs well for ya!

Fink

superjoe83 · 12-31-2004, 12:16 AM

thats really strange for a set of brushes to do that, they don't really have much load going through them, probably just defective

HondaTec521 · 12-31-2004, 05:32 AM

Or the MUD ground down the brushes............................

BruceTS · 12-31-2004, 07:21 AM

I doubt the mud wore the brushes out that fast, I go muddin all the time and my stock alt hasn't had any problems. It could be the carbon material Mr. Alt. brushes use is too soft or the higher output put too much of a load on them.

Flamedx4 · 12-31-2004, 06:32 PM

Years ago when everyone started winding for "high output", brushes and brushholders actually burnt on some units! Stage 2 was heavier brushholders and then bearings died... In RVs where the alternator has to work really hard the big alternators that survive are physically big, big bearings, big brushes, lotsa air circulation, and big dollars! If you use a winch or even just have a lot of aux lights you might find that a stock alternator lasts longer than aftermarket "high output" units, unless you pony the real money and get a good one. (I'm not saying this "mr alternator" unit isn't any good, I've never heard of them.)

3car · 12-31-2004, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gapguy

Anyways, $28 later my old alt works again! Now to return the new one..

good luck on that one.

Flamedx4 · 01-02-2005, 12:42 AM

Great avatar 3car! Time for a new pic?

3car · 01-02-2005, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flamedx4

Great avatar 3car! Time for a new pic?

yeah, it probably is. I've been lazy lately

12-28-2004, 06:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Flamedx4 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA Posts: 3,285	Depends on what went wrong, but alternators are easy to repair. Harder may be getting parts for a "Mr Alternator" unit... I bet all that went wrong was a diode or three blew. Tear it apart and see! (First see if they will warranty it. Pity you didn't do that before buying a new one...) __________________ All my Yotas are gone. Stuff to sell: http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.p...39#post1009839 -Phil Last edited by Flamedx4; 12-28-2004 at 06:29 PM.

12-30-2004, 09:19 PM	#4 (permalink)
gapguy Contributing Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nevada City, CA Posts: 3,540	Just a little update..I took the alternator to a local shop, and they fixed it in an hour. It turns out that the brushes were entirely worn out, with no contact left. Thats pretty crazy for ~5k miles. Anyways, $28 later my old alt works again! Now to return the new one.. __________________ 2008 Mini Cooper

12-30-2004, 10:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
4x4Fink Super Moderator Staff Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Centerton, AR Posts: 5,952	Good to hear man, mudding is a heck of a lot of fun, especially with a bunch of your good friends but it can be hell on your rig. Not to hijack or anything but I have been looking for a high-output alternator and I'm wondering if the 150amp Mr. Alternator you have would work with my 2nd gen...are they pretty universal or would I need one made for my rig? Hope everything else cleans off and runs well for ya! Fink __________________ 1985 4Runner 22RE 4WD "Ratchet" 2007 Tacoma Double Cab SB 4x4 V6 TRD Sport AR-TTORA "My work number is 9-1-1."

12-31-2004, 12:16 AM	#6 (permalink)
superjoe83 Contributing Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Oregon City, Oregon Posts: 1,870	thats really strange for a set of brushes to do that, they don't really have much load going through them, probably just defective __________________ - Joe 1984 SR5 4runner, 22re, 5-speed, chevy 63"s, rears up front custom pack, BBCS shocks, 2" BL, 5.29's, welded rear, Detroit in front, Longfields, IFS Rear, 39.5x13.50x15 IROK's, Marlin's High Steer, MC07 with stock cases, Marlin's cross member, tube bumper, Warn XD9000, Allied Beadlocks 1999 Taco 2.7 5-speed, LCE Header, Jardine 2.25 Cat-Back, 3" Downey Coilover, 33x13.5 Toyo MT's, ARB Bull Bar, Retrofitted Acura TL HID Projectors with 50W ballasts and 50W DL50 Philips 3900k bulbs

12-31-2004, 06:32 PM	#9 (permalink)
Flamedx4 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA Posts: 3,285	Years ago when everyone started winding for "high output", brushes and brushholders actually burnt on some units! Stage 2 was heavier brushholders and then bearings died... In RVs where the alternator has to work really hard the big alternators that survive are physically big, big bearings, big brushes, lotsa air circulation, and big dollars! If you use a winch or even just have a lot of aux lights you might find that a stock alternator lasts longer than aftermarket "high output" units, unless you pony the real money and get a good one. (I'm not saying this "mr alternator" unit isn't any good, I've never heard of them.) __________________ All my Yotas are gone. Stuff to sell: http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.p...39#post1009839 -Phil

12-27-2004, 11:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
jimbo74 Banned Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Nor*Cal Posts: 6,582	give mr alternator a call, and see if they will warranty it, dont tell them you wnet mudding though... and next time, put some inner mud guards or something to help cut down on exposure if its possible

12-31-2004, 05:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
HondaTec521 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 220	Or the MUD ground down the brushes............................

12-31-2004, 07:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
BruceTS Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 2,317	I doubt the mud wore the brushes out that fast, I go muddin all the time and my stock alt hasn't had any problems. It could be the carbon material Mr. Alt. brushes use is too soft or the higher output put too much of a load on them.

01-02-2005, 12:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
Flamedx4 Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA Posts: 3,285	Great avatar 3car! Time for a new pic? __________________ All my Yotas are gone. Stuff to sell: http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.p...39#post1009839 -Phil

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