My check engine and oil light lit up then my car died on my way back to New York from Indiana in the middle of Ohio. I got towed to a repair shop, where the mechanic told me its my alternator. This is the second time I had to change my alternator in a year. I don't have a big audio system in my.

When I look through the fender to the alternator there is no plastic shield covering it....is that normal or do I need a shield? A week before I left to go to Indy we had a big rainstorm that lasted a couple of days. I know my alternator got wet. I started hearing squeeling from the belts, was that a sign of a soon to be dead alternator?

A next observation...I noticed when I turn on my AC, I get a drop in performance, ie accel., power. Is that normal in a GXE or SE or both?

I got the car fixed, but I had to listen to get rid of my max the whole way back home. I felt like crap, my max let me down. Any advice will be much appreciated. thanx fellas.

p.s. Its a GXE 1992 not an SE that I have now. I had to junk the SE...don;t ask

 

i get a drop in performance too when i put on the ac. but i also need to change my timing belt, water pump and a ****load of other things.

 

Well assuming your car dude is correct, you will go through many alternators if they are cheapo Advance Auto rebuilds. I got mine replaced at Sears and it kicks a$$

Not sure about that shield, neither of my 3rd gens have one. As for the squealing, try replacing the belt with a higher quality (lifetime warranty) belt and adjust your belt tensioner since they are not automatic like modern cars.

Some loss of power is normal, as that compressor sucks a lot of power to turn. But it shouldn’t be too noticeable. It just depends on how dramatic the loss of power is.

 

would a lighter underdrive pulley solve the power loss problem, I read somewhere that a lighter pulley would increase HP and help the accessories runs better.

 

actually, doesn't it lower the efficiency of the belt accessories due to the smaller diameter of the pully? less movement of the accessory pullies per revolution of the motor..

 

I am not sure if the pulley that fits the 3rd gens is an underdrive or just a lighten pulley. Assuming they are both an underdrive and lighten pulley, then what it does is turn the accessories slower per revolution. As far as efficiency decreasing, I'm not sure about that, maybe at idle.

I think a good oil change and running a tank of V-Power would do wonders for all of your AC power loss.