What's wrong with my Jeep?

[Mudderoy]

Had a problem this evening.... Check Gauges Light
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVSR8su3PZI/AAAAAAAAApI/cMQ-p7bEi_M/s720/2011-02-10%2018.01.30.jpg

Check voltage on battery after the 1 hour drive home.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVSRvfBSIbI/AAAAAAAAApE/ecLqA25eM2s/s720/2011-02-10%2018.13.26.jpg

I'm thinking I can get it out from the bottom
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVSQ5XuXciI/AAAAAAAAAow/A5tBzspfmwg/s720/2011-02-10%2018.16.15.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVSRNCPIVXI/AAAAAAAAAo4/4kRF8LBHPRI/s720/2011-02-10%2018.16.01.jpg

[bigjim350]

Yeah its pretty easy to drop from the bottom. Good thing you have that redtop or you might not have made it home.

[Weldmen]

Thats the way I replaced mine from the bottom. Still a pain but it works.

[prcjeep]

You dont have a skid so you cna definately take it out from the bottom... I romoved my battery/tray and had to take the fan off to take mine out of the top

[Mudderoy]

You dont have a skid so you cna definately take it out from the bottom... I romoved my battery/tray and had to take the fan off to take mine out of the top

Yeah I called Rene on the way home and he told me about the fun he had and you. :smiley-scared002:

[cantab27]

are they a pita to get to tony ?????

wish my gas gauge read like yours ......

[prcjeep]

hahaha yeah... thank god there was a Orielly in the middle of bumf*** Texas lol

[default83]

id check all grounds/terminals all that BS before ripping it out, mine was reading funny too but it fixed after i tightened everything. just a heads up.

[rguignard]

i know whats wrong with it tony
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needs more mud :smiley-laughing021::smiley-laughing021: :thumbsup:

[prcjeep]

i know whats wrong with it tony
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needs more mud :smiley-laughing021::smiley-laughing021: :thumbsup:

:smiley-laughing021::rotfl2::rotfl2:

[Mudderoy]

I called the Chyrsler dealership. After all this factory alternator has lasted 12 years and 167k miles. They do not carry them but they could have one in by Monday. It's $180(about) with a $50 core charge. They do not show what the amp rating is. Since Oreilly's shows a 90 amp for 1998 an a 117 amp for a 1999 I asked him to look up the alternator for a 1999 XJ. Completely different part number. I really wouldn't want to spend $180 and have 17 less amps available.

So the only reason I'd buy the more expensive factory alternator would be for it to be dependable and long lasting. $180 divided by 12 years is $15 a year!

The Oreilly's alternator 117 amp is about $120, but I have no idea how long it will last. So my question is for those of you that have replaced your alternator how long ago, how's it holding up, and what brand is it?

Thanks!

[TeXJ]

i got an oreily's one for my last jeep, PITB to replace, i did it from the top. Busted knuckles and all.... I had it it for like 2 yrs then the motor went boom, apparently when the oil pump goes out, so will the motor...go figure...

Dont forget about the Mean Green alternators, that put out more, lill whores!

[Mudderoy]

i got an oreily's one for my last jeep, PITB to replace, i did it from the top. Busted knuckles and all.... I had it it for like 2 yrs then the motor went boom, apparently when the oil pump goes out, so will the motor...go figure...

Dont forget about the Mean Green alternators, that put out more, lill whores!

Yeah with 167k I've been thinking about replacing the oil pump.

[TeXJ]

Yeah with 167k I've been thinking about replacing the oil pump.

really I dont see how the oil pump "goes out". It is just two gear that spin and suck up the oil.... anybody know how they just "go out"?

[steph74]

the o'reilly one might have a limited life time warranty though... sometimes it is good... i dont know

[Weldmen]

I get 90% of my parts from O'Reilys Because of having a lifetime warranty. They have never giving crap about any returns I have done. Tony I bought my 117amp from Napa lifetime warranty and brand new for about $150. no core..:thumbsup:

[TeXJ]

the o'reilly one might have a limited life time warranty though... sometimes it is good... i dont know

good point, i just used their lifetime warranty on their water pump

[Mudderoy]

Ok so I started at 6:25:46pm

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVYJT_ZBJ1I/AAAAAAAAApg/lt4zpWZCNwY/s720/2011-02-11%2018.25.46.jpg

Had it on the garage floor at 7:43:53
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVYKFgLP7nI/AAAAAAAAAqM/NYDtXkU8Kcs/s720/2011-02-11%2019.43.53.jpg

I took it up to Oreilly's Auto Parts. The put it on their computerized tester and it ... wait for it ...

PASSED!

I had them test it NINE times. Each test was nearly identical voltage, ripple, etc...

I thought about it for a little while then decided to buy the new one anyway.

And the survey says....

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_b0ViaGso2Ko/TVYKJl-FjYI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/GgZptZV4Q2U/s720/2011-02-11%2021.56.58.jpg

Job completed by 9:48pm....

[TeXJ]

haha that's weird. Glad ya got it going again.

[Weldmen]

I had then do mine 3 times. Then went to Napa had them test it. Well needless to say I bought a new one. Glad it worked out for ya Tony.. :thumbsup:

[Mudderoy]

Either moving the wiring around fixed an intermittent problem, or the cold was causing something not to work properly. Most likely the internal regulator.

Driving it will tell me if it was an intermittent problem as it will likely comeback during the shake test, also called the drive to and from work. :thumbsup:

[XJ4IV]

I just bought mine a few weeks back.... right after creekside mine was either AZ or orielly nd it has a lifetime warranty with a 64 core and i paid 99 for the alt... its doing great!

[TeXJ]

I just bought mine a few weeks back.... right after creekside mine was either AZ or orielly nd it has a lifetime warranty with a 64 core and i paid 99 for the alt... its doing great!

You're doing Great!

[Mudderoy]

On my way home from work Friday on I10 about 17 miles from home, the voltage gauge dropped to 11 or 12 volts. The red Check Engine light came on.

Then in less than a minute it dropped to 9 volts, the lowest portion of the volt meter display, and the Check Gauges light came on.

I was doing 60 to 70 mph at the time, no change in performance, A/C still blowing, steering felt the same (although at 70 mph I don't know I would be able to tell if the power steering wasn't working).

I thought about it a little bit, and figured it must be the alternator. I could pull over, or press on. I thought about turning everything electrical off but just left it all on. It was day time.

I tried pressing on the cluster, but normally that grounding issue effects more than one gauge, no luck. I tried rotating the ignition cylinder to see if I could get any change. Nothing.

I made it about 14 miles to my exit, and after turning off the feeder on to the main street to the house my radar detector started beeping and flashing "LOW VOLTAGE" With 3 miles to go before I get to my driveway in stop and go traffic, well now I'll start turning stuff off.

Less than 300 feet the radio shuts off.

Idle is normal, engine running fine. Five lights later I'm waiting in the turning lane to get to the house. Light turns and I make it the few hundred feet to the house.

A little searching here on the site locates this post, which I believe is the last time I replaced this alternator. That's the problem with having 3 Jeeps. It confuses the memory one which alternator you last changed.

I know I've changed it on the 98, and the 03 TJ, boy the TJ was easy with that alternator up top, but I can't remember ever changing it on the 99.

February 2011 to July 2016, not as good as the factory alternator for sure.

[Mudderoy]

Well took about 2 hours just to get the alternator out. Had to remove skid, then remove the Ironmanfab4x4 trackbar cross brace.

I was a little concerned the BrownDog motor mounts were going to block it, but it came out.

Now to fight with Oreily's about a FREE replacement.

[Mudderoy]

Went to the local Oreily's, no receipt for the alternator I bought back in 2011. They testing the current alternator, and guess what? It's good! Negative, as this is the same thing that happened 6 years ago.

Spoke with the manager and they warrented the one I took in.

The really fun thing is this is the guy that waiting on my (not the manager).

9538

He recognized me. Chatting he said he had lots of cars, and one is a vette! I laughed and told him I sure am glad he wasn't driving that one when he pulled in front of me. I don't think he thought that was funny.

Anyway he said his truck is fixed now and it just took a 12 pack. Never did get an answer from him as to why he thought the police were going to do something for him in that accident.

Well it shouldn't take very long from now to find out if this new alternator is the resolution.

[4.3LXJ]

Did they check that alternator for function?

[Mudderoy]

Did they check that alternator for function?

I don't know what that computerized yester does

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk 2

[4.3LXJ]

Supposedly the computerized tester test for proper function for each model of alternator. I guess if they replaced it after testing then it wasn't good. I think a new one will fix it

[Mudderoy]

Supposedly the computerized tester test for proper function for each model of alternator. I guess if they replaced it after testing then it wasn't good. I think a new one will fix it

No I explained to the guy, then the manager that the same thing happened last time. They tested the alternator, it showed good, so I just bought a new one, this one. They tested it, I went in the back and saw the test, PASSED PASSED.

So I have the replacement in and guess what, fixed.

I think I'm going to get to the bottom of these pass test thing at Oreily's.

9539

[4.3LXJ]

You might want to get a second opinion at another chain

[prerunner1982]

How many times did they test it the first times this happened? :D

[Mudderoy]

How many times did they test it the first times this happened? :D

https://youtu.be/Hh_vLKlz2Mc