6 and 7 bolt alternators

[Hubbell91Tsi]

Are they the same?

 

[lgibson08]

The alternators are the same as far as botling up but the wiring harness clip for them are different. i just ran into that with my 6 bolt swap.

 

[Hubbell91Tsi]

Alright thanks, i just got a new one instead of trying a junkyard one.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Even the manual and auto alternators are different..It should be just the harness that's diferent with the 7 bolt..

 

[lgibson08]

are they different from auto to manual? ### i put an extra alternator off my manual on a friends automatic and its workin fine. both are 7 bolt... or did i misread that?

 

[Bud92gsx]

NO sir your correct..The manual cars came with the 60 Amp, the auto cars 70 amp.I was shocked too when I seen it on Caps...They charge fine, you will definatly notice your lights dim when you downshift through stop/yeild signs in a auto car..I know just did it 2 or 3 weks ago..

But then your question is still the 7 bolt alternator is probly a different clip/harness..

 

[dsm-onster]

From my experience, the difference in the harness is 1g vs. 2g. Not 6bolt vs. 7bolt. The 1993-94 7bolt cars have the same plug.

The 2g alternators are MUCH more expensive if you notice. That's because it has the additional feature of cutting off when grounded so that it freewheels and takes less power from the motor during special circumstances. The 1g alternator isn't like this. The outer wires of the plug control this. You can cut them and splice in the 1g pigtail and use a much cheaper 1g alternator and not have to buy the expensive 2g unit if ever it were to fail. I do it all the time. 1g units seam more reliable as well, but that could have just been my luck. . .

 

[knochgoon24]

You could always try the Saturn alternator swap. I hope to get mine in next week. It's 96 Amps. I pulled it from a junkyard for $30 and had it tested at Advance. I have to grind the one mounting point down to get it to fit, but other than that and some easy wiring, it's an easy swap.

Other people have been having good results with it so far. It has a fan on it which should keep it cooler near the hot exhaust.

 

[Bud92gsx]

Ya the old saturn alternator swap..Did you forget all the grinding you have to do to the block to make it fit.. Great swap though...

 

[knochgoon24]

Ya the old saturn alternator swap..Did you forget all the grinding you have to do to the block to make it fit.. Great swap though...

That's the one mounting point I'm talking about.

There's a little bit that has to be ground off the alternator, but a carbide bit on my Dremel made quick work of that in just a few minutes.

It's going on early next week.

A/C & defroster + headlights + fog lights + rear defroster > DSM alternator output