Alternator

[raja]

Second alternator failure in 70,000 miles on my 99 IS. Is this reasonable or should I look for a hidden facter? ???

[Daniel Meyer]

Second alternator failure in 70,000 miles on my 99 IS. Is this reasonable or should I look for a hidden facter? ???

OEM from Honda or other?

[old2soon]

ALL Connections clean and snug/tight? Your electrical load Not more than the capacity of the alt? Battery on the way out? The O E M alt some were wound with chinese wire. A lesser quality wire than American or Japanese wire. RIDE SAFE.

[raja]

The first alt was factory. The second one was rebuilt by Ken Heming in 2012.

[raja]

Forgot to mention, only added load is heated jacket occasionally.

[John Schmidt]

Change everything over to LED lights, lessens the load on the alternator immensely.

[Daniel Meyer]

Seems uncommon...jacket's not a significant load. The miles aren't much...my alternator lasted 225,000 miles with brush change at 90,000. As other's said, check all connections, ground cable/etc and have the battery tested...a loose cable (or removing a cable while it's running) will often prang the regulator...

[raja]

I'm thinking it must not be that uncommon. Several sources stock them on the internet, even Walmart

[Chrisj CMA]

I'm thinking it must not be that uncommon. Several sources stock them on the internet, even Walmart

I "love it" when people ask a question and then when they don't like the answer they provide their own answer.  If you think its normal to go through two alternators in 70K miles then keep on doin whatever it is you are doin.  Just keep saying to yourself that many of us are experiencing the same thing.  Say it over and over so you can believe it.     

[raja]

I find it hard to believe any alt will last 222000 miles on any vehicle. And ,Chris, you're the one living in your own little world. Over the years,  your posts exhibit this arrogance.

[Daniel Meyer]

I find it hard to believe any alt will last 222000 miles on any vehicle.

Seriously?

Never gotten less than 100,000 out of any other than the Valk...which, like I said, needed brushes at 90,000. I pulled it off at 225,000 for brushes again (it was still charging) but replaced it as I had one handy...I will re-brush (and bearings if it needs it) it and put in back in stock.

Alternators dropping at anything less than 80-90k means badly done alternators or some other issue with the charging system.

I would say "normal" for "any vehicle" would be much higher....got an S-10 that's at 250,000, a Dodge truck at 150,000, the wife's last car (Altima) was still fine at 180,000 when we traded it in, my old Ramcharger (88) went 335,000....etc...all on original OEM alternators...

In my opinion the Valks stock alternator is "marginally" sized amperage wise and subject to some rather extreme conditions so I would expect them to need service earlier...but 2 in under 100,000 is indicating something's up...

[Paladin528]

Battery OK.  Most common cause of alternator failure is a bad battery causing the regulator to fail.

[raja]

Checking on the Webb, Dan, you have gotten well above average life from the alts on your vehicles. I believe my first one was caused by the battery. The second one, I don't know. Had a battery monitor gauge installed after the first failure. I will put in new alt and battery again and see if my luck changes. As a side note: there are several sources for Goldwing and Valkyrie alternators out there. There must be a demand for them or no one would stock. Have a friend with a Goldwing, lost his at 40000. Thanks for the intelligent response.

[Willow]

For what it's worth I have a Standard with a little over 180,000 miles.  The alternator has never been touched.

My Mazda pickup has 219,000 miles on the original alternator.

One of my Interstates burned out an alternator at about 40,000 miles.

[raja]

Thank for your input Willow. I guess there is no pointed reason for failure. Hopefully, my problem will go away for a while. I will try to rebuild the old one for a spare.

[Chrisj CMA]

And ,Chris, you're the one living in your own little world. Over the years,  your posts exhibit this arrogance.

Don't know about this little world to myself you speak of.  Interesting concept ( where ever that came from ) except for it's not grounded in reality.  

So over several years you have accumulated what like a couple dozen posts.  And all this time lurking ( lurking= silent) kinda like in your own world you've decided I'm the arrogant one.

That's fine, enjoy, ride safe

[raja]

Chris, your research should show that I have only posted a half dozen times since 2010. You are always on and commenting. Who's the troll?

[Chrisj CMA]

Chris, your research should show that I have only posted a half dozen times since 2010. You are always on and commenting. Who's the troll?

Like I said enjoy, ride safe. Done here

[Harryc]

Chris has always given me good advice dude. Chill out, he's only trying to help. That's what this forum is for right?

[Gryphon Rider]

If arrogant means speaking authoritatively on subjects that one has much knowledge of and/or experience in, then there are many on this board who are arrogant, including myself sometimes. ChrisJ had a legitimate point about your attitude. Your response to him displayed another facet of your attitude.

[Hooter]

I don't know how stupid this is, but I blow my alternator out every year at the beginning of riding season. It just removes the crap, but I never have had a problem.  I only put about 7000 mi on a year. May not help a thing, it's just what I do.   

[Chrisj CMA]

I don't know how stupid this is, but I blow my alternator out every year at the beginning of riding season. It just removes the crap, but I never have had a problem.  I only put about 7000 mi on a year. May not help a thing, it's just what I do.   

I do it every now and again (25K miles or so) I take the alternator apart and blow all the dust out.  Last time I found Id been bugged, there was a dead bug in there lol

[Moonshot_1]

Second alternator failure in 70,000 miles on my 99 IS. Is this reasonable or should I look for a hidden facter? ???

I had a 99 tourer and now have a 99 interstate.
The tourer I gave to my Daughter and Son in Law when I got the interstate.
The tourer had over 100k and running fine on the original alternator.
The interstate is just short of 70k and is on the original alternator.

My opinion is going through 2 alternators in 70k miles is unreasonable. You should look for a hidden factor. I would start with the battery.

[Bighead]

Second alternator failure in 70,000 miles on my 99 IS. Is this reasonable or should I look for a hidden facter? ???

I had a 99 tourer and now have a 99 interstate.
The tourer I gave to my Daughter and Son in Law when I got the interstate.
The tourer had over 100k and running fine on the original alternator.
The interstate is just short of 70k and is on the original alternator.

My opinion is going through 2 alternators in 70k miles is unreasonable. You should look for a hidden factor. I would start with the battery.

My  Standard has 100k+ on original yet my IS crapped out at 42k.
If it were me I would check all the above mentioned connections and Battery. Then Replace it with an OEM not an aftermarket $100 job remember you get what you pay for most times.