Here is a list of my 'Pet Peeves' in the starter and alternator repair business. You may look at these items and say "I've done that!" or "What's wrong with that?" So in the future, I will discuss each one of these on a separate post to explain in more detail the what's wrong with them and why!
1, Tapping or hammering on starters to get them to work.
2, Pulling the battery cable off to check alternator.
3, People who expect you to know how much their repair will cost.
4, Working on 2000 and later vehicles.
5, Describing a starter malfunction as ‘doesn’t engage’.
6, People who disassemble their own unit and then want me to fix it.
I may add to this list if I think of anything!
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Friday, July 23, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Poor Quality, Part 3, 92 Dynasty Alternator
7/19/10
Today, this 'part store chain' rebuilt alternator, off of a 92 Dodge Dynasty came in with blown diodes in the rectifier. Two of the stator leads that were connected to the rectifier were loose, or I should say the threads of the screws were tight but the screws were not tightened down against the leads causing loose connections and failure of the unit. I tried to tighten the screws down, but they wouldn't even turn!
To compound the problem, this customer has been diagnosed with cancer and had limited funds. Even though I tried to help him save money and I got his unit fixed economically, he would have not had to work in the heat, pulling and reinstalling his unit and could have saved himself some money, if some S-O-B had done their job properly when they assembled the unit! This was blatant incompetence and I would have fired the employee who assembled this unit!
The circumstances of this job really pissed me off, almost enough to name the store which it was purchased, but I won't because 'rebuilds' from all the chain stores are all bad in my opinion, because they are not held to the same quality standards as new units! It's getting harder and harder to find quality units and parts, even new ones!
Today, this 'part store chain' rebuilt alternator, off of a 92 Dodge Dynasty came in with blown diodes in the rectifier. Two of the stator leads that were connected to the rectifier were loose, or I should say the threads of the screws were tight but the screws were not tightened down against the leads causing loose connections and failure of the unit. I tried to tighten the screws down, but they wouldn't even turn!
To compound the problem, this customer has been diagnosed with cancer and had limited funds. Even though I tried to help him save money and I got his unit fixed economically, he would have not had to work in the heat, pulling and reinstalling his unit and could have saved himself some money, if some S-O-B had done their job properly when they assembled the unit! This was blatant incompetence and I would have fired the employee who assembled this unit!
The circumstances of this job really pissed me off, almost enough to name the store which it was purchased, but I won't because 'rebuilds' from all the chain stores are all bad in my opinion, because they are not held to the same quality standards as new units! It's getting harder and harder to find quality units and parts, even new ones!
Poor Quality, Part 2, Prestolite Marine Alternator
7/9/10
Here's an example of someone hiring an idiot, who has no business working on anything, who worked on this customers boat and alternator and the results.
A customer brought me a Prestolite Marine alternator today that had a loud whining noise and was overcharging! After partial disassembly, I discovered that someone made a two inch jumper wire and by-passed the regulator, full fielding the alternator making it run at full charge! I have no idea why this was done!??? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Since the customer wanted new bearings, I completely disassembled the unit and found the stator (ring of windings) was toast and the rectifier was damaged, because of running it at full charge. This fo-paw (or is that spelled 'faux-paux') cost the customer over $150.00 in repairs!
Can somebody tell me how to spell 'fo-paw'?
Here's an example of someone hiring an idiot, who has no business working on anything, who worked on this customers boat and alternator and the results.
A customer brought me a Prestolite Marine alternator today that had a loud whining noise and was overcharging! After partial disassembly, I discovered that someone made a two inch jumper wire and by-passed the regulator, full fielding the alternator making it run at full charge! I have no idea why this was done!??? Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!
Since the customer wanted new bearings, I completely disassembled the unit and found the stator (ring of windings) was toast and the rectifier was damaged, because of running it at full charge. This fo-paw (or is that spelled 'faux-paux') cost the customer over $150.00 in repairs!
Can somebody tell me how to spell 'fo-paw'?
Monday, July 12, 2010
'Make-shift' causes problems down the road
A guy brought me a starter today that was supposed to be off an International diesel farm tractor. It had a broken drive end housing (nose). We spent over a half hour trying to figure out what he had so I could order him another starter, as there was extensive damage and it would be a costly repair.
After a lot of comparison which I don't care to go into, we determined that the starter he brought me was not right for the tractor but was the one that was working on it. The correct starter had the wrong geometry on the mount housing to fit the tractor.
I'm not sure who or how this starter was put together, but it was obviously a make-shift job as the armature shaft had been cut off and poorly hand ground to fit. This was a contributing factor to the failure of the starter.
I've ordered a new housing for it and if it matches I should be able to repair his starter but it will be at the tune of about $350.00 due to how bad of shape it's in because it needs to be completely gutted! I could of probably got him a replacement cheaper but because I couldn't identify it, I couldn't order it!
I'm not sure how all this came together from a make-shift starter, to International Harvester assembling the tractor with several different engines or transmissions, to somebody swaping an engine or transmission during the life of the tractor. All I know is that the customer has an expensive fix coming!
7/15/10
Update; I was able to get the correct replacement housing and properly rebuild this starter. This was the most I've ever had to charge for this model of Delco starter!
After a lot of comparison which I don't care to go into, we determined that the starter he brought me was not right for the tractor but was the one that was working on it. The correct starter had the wrong geometry on the mount housing to fit the tractor.
I'm not sure who or how this starter was put together, but it was obviously a make-shift job as the armature shaft had been cut off and poorly hand ground to fit. This was a contributing factor to the failure of the starter.
I've ordered a new housing for it and if it matches I should be able to repair his starter but it will be at the tune of about $350.00 due to how bad of shape it's in because it needs to be completely gutted! I could of probably got him a replacement cheaper but because I couldn't identify it, I couldn't order it!
I'm not sure how all this came together from a make-shift starter, to International Harvester assembling the tractor with several different engines or transmissions, to somebody swaping an engine or transmission during the life of the tractor. All I know is that the customer has an expensive fix coming!
7/15/10
Update; I was able to get the correct replacement housing and properly rebuild this starter. This was the most I've ever had to charge for this model of Delco starter!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Poor Quality, Part 1= Expensive Repairs
I will be posting quality issues that I come across under 'Poor Quality' posts!
Today, a guy brought me a 12V refueling pump that goes on a refueling tank in the back of a pickup. I don't generally work on these and can't get parts for them but I accepted the job as long as he pays, whether I can fix it or it works or not. The reason I charge this way on odd-ball items like this is that I can get a lot of time in working on stuff like this with no compensation for my time!
The problem with this unit was that moisture got inside the motor and behind the field magnets and lifted them loose from the case and against the armature locking it in place. The reason moisture got into the motor was because of the poor workmanship from the factory when it was new. Who ever assembled the unit, allowed the O-ring seal to get pinched off of one side and not properly sealed the unit.
This repair cost the customer 2 & 1/2 hours labor to repair. If proper care had been taken at the factory when it was assembled, the customer wouldn't have had the extra cost!
Today, a guy brought me a 12V refueling pump that goes on a refueling tank in the back of a pickup. I don't generally work on these and can't get parts for them but I accepted the job as long as he pays, whether I can fix it or it works or not. The reason I charge this way on odd-ball items like this is that I can get a lot of time in working on stuff like this with no compensation for my time!
The problem with this unit was that moisture got inside the motor and behind the field magnets and lifted them loose from the case and against the armature locking it in place. The reason moisture got into the motor was because of the poor workmanship from the factory when it was new. Who ever assembled the unit, allowed the O-ring seal to get pinched off of one side and not properly sealed the unit.
This repair cost the customer 2 & 1/2 hours labor to repair. If proper care had been taken at the factory when it was assembled, the customer wouldn't have had the extra cost!
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Welcome to my blog!
A little about my background: I have owned and operated a small alternator and starter repair shop for over 11 years and have repaired everything from little jet-ski and ATV starters to the huge diesel starters and alternators. Though I have not seen everything out there, I have worked on a large variety of units, which is anything I could get parts for. First and foremost, I believe in quality when I do repairs and doing a job right the first time. I ‘hate’ returns or to have to do anything twice!
When I was younger I operated construction machinery and farm equipment and have had some experience repairing such equipment. My auto mechanic schooling and experience was from the late 1970’s and though it has helped me in my current business, I’m not a mechanic and know little when it comes to all the computer systems of the vehicles produced today! Also, I collect antique farm tractors and engines and enjoy tinkering with them so that has given me further experience with older equipment!
I decided to write this blog to help people with their starter, alternator and generator problems and give them advice as to how to check their system and also how to relate their problems to their mechanic or rebuilder. I also hope my local customers read this to help them diagnose their problem, so they may properly be able to explain their problem when they bring in the unit!
So in the coming months I will be posting tips and advice and will try to answer questions when and if I can. I will also post some how-to’s and things not to do that can damage your units or systems, along with some of the dumb or ridicules things some of my customers have said or done!
Note; I will only offer advice related to my field and since I’m not a certified mechanic and have no ready access to information spanning the vast variety of vehicles computer systems and electrical systems, I can NOT advise you and tell you how to fix your car! Questions like these I can’t answer and will only send a generic answer stating the above or no answer at all. General questions may not receive an answer either, as there are so many different designs of units out there and a general answers won’t cover it. I will also not cover anything to do with ‘wind powered’ generators as that is a different subject and can be found on different sites or blogs!
If you should ask me a question about a specific unit, you will need to provide me with detailed information such as make, model, year and engine size if you’re asking about a vehicle. When it comes to other equipment, as much information as you can provide will help but I still may not be able to look it up. Info like John Deere 4430 tractor or Case 580K Backhoe may suffice but I may need more depending on the application and if there is any split year units on the machine. It may also take me a few days to reply as I am very busy and it may take some time to look things up!
When I was younger I operated construction machinery and farm equipment and have had some experience repairing such equipment. My auto mechanic schooling and experience was from the late 1970’s and though it has helped me in my current business, I’m not a mechanic and know little when it comes to all the computer systems of the vehicles produced today! Also, I collect antique farm tractors and engines and enjoy tinkering with them so that has given me further experience with older equipment!
I decided to write this blog to help people with their starter, alternator and generator problems and give them advice as to how to check their system and also how to relate their problems to their mechanic or rebuilder. I also hope my local customers read this to help them diagnose their problem, so they may properly be able to explain their problem when they bring in the unit!
So in the coming months I will be posting tips and advice and will try to answer questions when and if I can. I will also post some how-to’s and things not to do that can damage your units or systems, along with some of the dumb or ridicules things some of my customers have said or done!
Note; I will only offer advice related to my field and since I’m not a certified mechanic and have no ready access to information spanning the vast variety of vehicles computer systems and electrical systems, I can NOT advise you and tell you how to fix your car! Questions like these I can’t answer and will only send a generic answer stating the above or no answer at all. General questions may not receive an answer either, as there are so many different designs of units out there and a general answers won’t cover it. I will also not cover anything to do with ‘wind powered’ generators as that is a different subject and can be found on different sites or blogs!
If you should ask me a question about a specific unit, you will need to provide me with detailed information such as make, model, year and engine size if you’re asking about a vehicle. When it comes to other equipment, as much information as you can provide will help but I still may not be able to look it up. Info like John Deere 4430 tractor or Case 580K Backhoe may suffice but I may need more depending on the application and if there is any split year units on the machine. It may also take me a few days to reply as I am very busy and it may take some time to look things up!
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