I have a 99 GS with the 420A motor...I want to do the Saturn alternator swap (already have the right Saturn alternator, have ground it down, and am ready to install). I have heard though from some people that the swap can only be done on the 4g63? Someone please give me a straight answer...any help is appreciated.

I am sure it can be done on a 420A, it has never been document and it surely will not be as easy as it is on a 4G63. The 420A alternator is better than the 2G 4G63 anyway...why do you want to do this?

I would assume he wants to do it for a dirt cheap alternative to other alternators. New saturn alternators are like 85$ and the on on my SC1 has 257,xxx miles on it.

That would make sense...if he had a 4G63. However, the 420A alternator is also only 85-95.00 new since it too is a domestic (Chrysler) product. It also is 90 amps.

GSX401 said:

That would make sense...if he had a 4G63. However, the 420A alternator is also only 85-95.00 new since it too is a domestic (Chrysler) product. It also is 90 amps.

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Where do you buy your alternators from? The cheapest new alternators I'm aware of cost well over $200. Nonetheless, I agree that there's little need to swap it for something else. The stock alternator does a more than adequate job and isn't very failure prone.

AutoZone lists it for 94.99 as long as you have a core to exchange.

Also this may be a good alternative...depending how they boosted the power. It may be weak at idle.

1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse Alternator No/Turbo2.0L 150Amps | eBay

GSX401 said:

AutoZone lists it for 94.99 as long as you have a core to exchange.

Also this may be a good alternative...depending how they boosted the power. It may be weak at idle.

1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse Alternator No/Turbo2.0L 150Amps | eBay

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Neither of those are brand new alternators, they're re-manufactured. The last reman alternator I had died after about a year and a half, but your mileage may vary.

Well does anyone have a link to these cheap new Saturn alternators, I am going to need one in the future anyway.

If can make it work i would like to see pic

Its a great mod for the 4G63 ( I did it with my GSX), but has yet to be done on the 420a. I've never had alternator problems with any of my 420a, so I don't see it as a necessary mod, but your choice if you want to look at it. As far as the grinding already done etc., I would suspect that it is for the 4G63 and not applicable to whatever grinding you would need to do........wait a sec. Paul, are we missing something here? What is the status of the ECU internal regulator? How do you plan on working around that?

MB

Doesn't the company that makes MegaSquirt offer an external conversion kit?

420A/Neon Alternator Voltage Regulator - SymTech Laboratories

I thought the Saturn alternators were single or two wire alternators. If so, they should have internal voltage regulators.

VelocitàPaola;152664206 said:

I thought the Saturn alternators were single or two wire alternators. If so, they should have internal voltage regulators.

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Yup, that's what I'm getting at. You have an internal with an "external". But I guess that would be ok, it would just regulate the regulated voltage, .

MB

....

Thanks for the answers guys...I was looking for a way to keep a stronger charge in my car's battery (I run a system with a 1000w amp and two 12's, but never installed a capacitor...), looks to me like the better way to go would be to just fork out the money for a good capacitor and call it a day. As far as the "grinding" I mentioned, I followed the instructions on one of the threads on here, and I realize now that must have been for the 4g63. Oh well...looks like I have a prepped Saturn alternator for a 4g63 sitting here in the garage...anyone looking for one, shoot me a pm I guess. Thanks again guys for all the help!

bullettdsm said:

Yup, that's what I'm getting at. You have an internal with an "external". But I guess that would be ok, it would just regulate the regulated voltage, .

MB

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Eh? It shouldn't... you would just leave the two wires that go from the PCM's regulator to the stock 420A alternator's field disconnected. On the Saturn alternator, those should be internal and connected directly to its voltage regulator. The only wires you should have to connect are a B+ wire (straight to the battery) and possibly a ground (not sure if the Saturn alt has this or not).

VelocitàPaola;152664900 said:

Eh? It shouldn't... you would just leave the two wires that go from the PCM's regulator to the stock 420A alternator's field disconnected. On the Saturn alternator, those should be internal and connected directly to its voltage regulator. The only wires you should have to connect are a B+ wire (straight to the battery) and possibly a ground (not sure if the Saturn alt has this or not).

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As I recollect on the Saturn alt, it was a three wire plug that we used two wires on. But anyway;

So the two pcm wires would not cause any other cels/problems being disconnected? (as in the ECU is looking for signal from these wires and sees nothing?)

Eh, conversation for curiousity sake.

MB

bullettdsm said:

As I recollect on the Saturn alt, it was a three wire plug that we used two wires on. But anyway;

So the two pcm wires would not cause any other cels/problems being disconnected? (as in the ECU is looking for signal from these wires and sees nothing?)

Eh, conversation for curiousity sake.

MB

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Oh, you'd almost definitely get a charging system light. I'm not sure if there's a way around it besides removing the bulb.

Really wish I'd asked this question before I went and bought (and prepped) the new Saturn alternator...good info in this thread guys. And I have to ask the same question as VelocitàPaola, where in the world can you find a new alternator for the 420a for 80-90 bucks? The Saturn alternator is definitely MUCH cheaper...

That said, my alternator really isn't failing on me, I was just looking for a way to increase power and reduce battery drain on my poor little 99 GS. Like I said before, I'm just going to fork over the cash for a capacitor and call it a day...no sense getting caught up in a project that sounds like it'll create more problems than it will solve...

Thanks again all.