I've gone through 3 NAPA "Premium" alternators in 5 months. 1st one lasted 4 months, 2nd one lasted 3 weeks. 3rd one lasted 10 minutes. And I'm trying to get ready to go to Moab! I've spent the last three evenings 1) trying to figure out what could be wrong, 2) taking out the 2nd one 3) putting in the 3rd one and watching it die with the ammeter.

3rd one was charging fine while idling (28A), then I revved up the engine for a little bit, it went to 60-65 A. When I let it go back to idle, the current dropped to 0. Dead.

 

sooo.. just a quick update.. i was planning on getting the OEM alternator but i really don't have the extra cash right now so i just went ahead and got mine replaced... but when i took it off, i noticed the wire that bolts onto the alternator looked fried! the metal that goes around the bolt was partly melted and it looks like there was some arc'ing going on. The guys at Kragen almost didn't exchange it but they did eventually. So far I've had it on another 2 weeks and no problems yet... i'm wondering if maybe i didn't have it bolted down right when i first put it on. anyways i hope that was it, but we'll see what happens in a few months! again thanks everyone!