saturn alternator from motorcityreman.com

[pearl4gtsi]

so, a little while ago, i was reading on doing the saturn alt swap and came across a link for motorcityreman.com. i figured while im doing my build, ill just get a brand new one vs a used one.

they had an option for an se voltage regulator specifically for dsm guys. so i figured what the heck.

just got the alternator in the mail... and the connector is filled with black silicone!?

is this supposed to be some kind of regulator that we dont have to fuss with wiring up and just connect a wire from the battery to charge?

anyone else order from them?

heres the link:
SC/SL Series

any thoughts?

mike

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Anyone??

 

[Eclipse Freak]

I did the same thing trying to figure it out too i think you take it out, not sure also do you or someone know if you have to change the pulley on the alt, because it is much bigger then the stock one width wise.

ok so from what i have read ignore my question about the pulley its fine, second I'm 90% sure you remove the silicone. If anything remove it and make sure the harness plugs in fine then you know thats right and if not just fill it back up and continue asking haha. But like I said I'm convinced that it needs to be removed.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Actually, I just found out that it is done this way to be a 1 wire alternator and is internally regulated. Probably not the best idea to go single wire, but I'm gonna give it a shot anyway

 

[TurboDSM90]

If the plug is filled with rtv then you guys purchased the self exciting alternator that is, as stated by peal, internally regulated. Nothing wrong with this as it saves you from running a 12v switched source to the plug for voltage regulation.

Only issue I have with the motor city reman alternator is a voltage drop above 9K.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Turbo, thanks for your input. Have you personally used one of these? How well did it work? And when you say 9k, are you talking motor rev or alt rev?

 

[TurboDSM90]

Yes I have one on my car right now. 160 amp version, voltage progressively drops from 13.6 down to 12.5ish above 9000 engine rpms. Works really good under 9K.

 

[Dyesuperman]

I have also ran the 1 wire setup for over a year now without any issues to speak of. It will help when doing my fuse box harness tuck as that will be one less plug to include

 

[pearl4gtsi]

I am also doing a bay shave and tuck and any extra wires gone means less work.

I also picked up the 160 amp version. Glad to know it works well.

Quick question.... While reving out to 9k, while the voltage drops, have you noticed any adverse affects to the voltage dropping? I.e. fuel pump not pushing as much fuel, possibly causing a lean a/f?

 

[TurboDSM90]

I am also doing a bay shave and tuck and any extra wires gone means less work.

I also picked up the 160 amp version. Glad to know it works well.

Quick question.... While reving out to 9k, while the voltage drops, have you noticed any adverse affects to the voltage dropping? I.e. fuel pump not pushing as much fuel, possibly causing a lean a/f?

No I haven't noticed any issues with leaning out, but I have a pretty beefy pump. The magnafuel pump already pushes more than enough fuel to my dual rails as it is, but I have seen no ill effects to raise concern. Before the motocity alternator I was on a parts store Saturn alternator. My voltage would drop to 11.8volts at redline, so this is actually an upgrade from where I was before. I even ran a 4 gauge wire to the battery from the alternators + terminal, fresh grounds and I still have the voltage drop.

It does cruise really nice at 13.9volts vs the parts store saturn alternator which cruised around 13.2-13.3 with the old grounds and stock + feed wiring.

Overall I am really happy so far.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Ok, this is great news! I was doubting myself in my purchase for a while, but you just made my day!

Thank you very much for the info, turbo. Very insightful!

Mike

 

[92nolatist]

I had one of these alts too. 160amp, self exciting regulator, never charged under 1000rpms and stopped charging above 7k. Sent it back in to get checked out and swapped in a wired regulator. Still the same problem. I have since taken a large hammer to it after many frustrating hours of pain and anguish, and have gone to an OEM reman 90 amp alt, no problems with it

 

[TurboDSM90]

No I haven't noticed any issues with leaning out, but I have a pretty beefy pump. The magnafuel pump already pushes more than enough fuel to my dual rails as it is, but I have seen no ill effects to raise concern. Before the motocity alternator I was on a parts store Saturn alternator. My voltage would drop to 11.8volts at redline, so this is actually an upgrade from where I was before. I even ran a 4 gauge wire to the battery from the alternators + terminal, fresh grounds and I still have the voltage drop.

It does cruise really nice at 13.9volts vs the parts store saturn alternator which cruised around 13.2-13.3 with the old grounds and stock + feed wiring.

Overall I am really happy so far.

I had one of these alts too. 160amp, self exciting regulator, never charged under 1000rpms and stopped charging above 7k. Sent it back in to get checked out and swapped in a wired regulator. Still the same problem. I have since taken a large hammer to it after many frustrating hours of pain and anguish, and have gone to an OEM reman 90 amp alt, no problems with it

I am feeling the same way about the hammer thing now...

The voltage drop has progressed to 10.8 volts at 8900rpms. Now the fuel pressure is dropping in the higher revs due to the voltage drop.

I just noticed this today as the tune dramatically changed in the higher revs since the last time out at the track.

Needless to say I am not very happy with this issue and I guess i will be sending it back to motorcityreman soon.

Not a good update, but it is needed as this alternator has less than 10 hours of use and is performing HORRIBLY above 8500rpms.

 

[____Kurt____]

Well I guess it wasn't long for me to post in this thread, I have 430 miles on my entire build including my Motor city reman 160 amp saturn alternator. The car was running good and charging very well until I got the car tuned 40 miles ago. Well now the car runs like crap because the alternator took a crap and the battery only had 10v in it. An extreme lean condition made me find this problem. 1 and a half weeks until the shootout and I personally dont have time to be playing around with a crappy alternator. I guess the alternator couldn't take the RPMs or what but I need to solve this issue before the shootout. I might get the alternator rebuilt at a local shop or send it back. It is a 1 wire self exciter model.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Ok, thanks for the updates... But I do have a question... What pulley do you have on the alternator?

I think I remember reading somewhere that the pulley can be changed with a 2g pulley.... I'm assuming different sizes... Possibly that that could play a role in the alt going so quick? Maybe it's too much rpm for the alt with that pulley causing premature failure?

Only reason I ask is just because your revving to 9k, the alt could be doing more than that depending on pulley size, and it's too much for it to handle??

Idk, just thinking....

 

[Ghost_92TSi]

The pulley that comes with it is smaller so it revs the same as our stock ones. I have one of these and I like. The 1gs always have issues with a loose igniter wire than can make your alt not put out what it needs. These alt was self igniting one too. I did have mine blow up on me too though, randomly one day the terminal was loose inside the alternator and was all burnt. I sent it in w/ return shipping and got another one. I put in my dead old alternator (power steering leak) but its been working fine, So I haven't put the MotorCity one back in yet so I can't tell you what is up with that one.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Ok, my next question is where do you guys have it mounted??

I am going to use the jays racing relocate kit... If you use it in the stock location, is it possible that heat from exh/turbo could cause these premature failures?

 

[Ghost_92TSi]

Ok, my next question is where do you guys have it mounted??

I am going to use the jays racing relocate kit... If you use it in the stock location, is it possible that heat from exh/turbo could cause these premature failures?

Mines in the stock location so it is possible, Heard it was supposed to do better because it has the built in fan. My DP is wrapped and I have my stock manifold heat shield. It will definately do better in the back though, I just like my A/C being in TX and all.

 

[pearl4gtsi]

Cool Chris, thanks. I hear ya on wanting the a/c, but I've been so used to not having it, it's no bother to me. Plus I have a daily.

Yeah I hope it does better in the back. I'm still going to heat wrap everything and get a snail cover too, but I'm gonna continue my build using this alt. It might be a while because I have a long way to go in my build, but I will update as to how things work out for me.

 

[Ghost_92TSi]

Cool Chris, thanks. I hear ya on wanting the a/c, but I've been so used to not having it, it's no bother to me. Plus I have a daily.

Yeah I hope it does better in the back. I'm still going to heat wrap everything and get a snail cover too, but I'm gonna continue my build using this alt. It might be a while because I have a long way to go in my build, but I will update as to how things work out for me.

Cool Cool. I got good at Alt swaps, I would blow them every two weeks from autozone, finally traded the blown one in and sold the reman one they gave me for 50 bucks. I have a daily too, the A/c in the talon works, So I guess for now it stays. To me it is kind of bragging rights, full interior, PS, A/C. Ya know. My talon is in a billion pieces . Good luck with the build and let me know how it turns out!