Alternators and EGR

Jul 14, 2003 1 Replies

My first alternator went 6 years, the second went 2 years, and the last went



3 months (3 lousy months!). Any chance there's something else in the engine causing the alternator to fail? Also, my check engine light comes on intermittently. The mechanic's scanner would not communicate with the computer, but he did find that the tube from the EGR is leaking where it enters the plenum. This is apparently causing the problem with the CEL. Is there some way to repair that leak? I'm not aware that there is a gasket at that point and I believe the plenum just sits on the outpipe to seal it.

'95 Explorere w/ pushrod engine


It would help if we knew what part of the alternator was failing...... there are cheap rebuilts and there are not so cheap rebuilts - the proof is in the quality. Installing the new alternator and failing to make sure the battery is fully charged can shorten the lifespan of the alternator. Corrosion on the large connectors for charging current can shorten the life of the alternator.

IIRC, the EGR valve is bolted directly to the manifold on these.... if the gasket between the valve and the manifold is leaking, it will show as a lean mixture. If there is a leak between the valve and the EGR tube, it may show as excess EGR flow. At any rate, since we don't know what codes have generated the MIL, we have know way of knowing if your assumption is indeed fact.

-- Jim Warman snipped-for-privacy@telusplanet.net

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