What is normal voltage from your alternator?

[chanley talon]

My logger says that at times i have 13.7 volts normaly fluctuates from 12.4 to 13.7 so does my saf2 . Ive noticed that my dash lights also seem to be flickering from dark to bright . Then i popped my hood and its dark out ! I noticed that every now and then id see a small flame from the back side of the alternator and it flarred up and went away ridicuolsly fast . I also notice i have oil wich apears to be leaking from my exausht mani right above the alternator . Do you think it is possible that the alternator is really hot and oil is dripping down and causing a quick flame?

 

[chanley talon]

Is it possible a manifold stud could leak oil if you tapped it and drilled in to far? This is a side question to the original alternator question?

 

[toybreaker]

On a 1g, the power steering pumps like to seep/leak. It will cover the whole area and make it hard to tell where the schmeg is coming from. Usually, the leak is from the o-rings on the high pressure hose on top of the pump. The pump shaft seal can also leak as well.

Without seeing your actual car, I can only guess...

Another possibility is the valve cover, but you would know because you would probably smell burning oil.

If you're seeing arcing on the outside of the alternator, you need to remedy the wire, or the post asap

It's possible the brushes could arc against the slip ring inside the alternator. If the slip ring is rough, or the brushes are worn shorter than the service spec, they may bounce some. This could be visible as an arc...

Please clean the area and try and locate the leak.

Edit, just saw the second question. If you're talking about drilling/tapping an exhaust manifold stud,...yes you can strike oil if you go too far. I would think installing your new stud with a little blue loc-tite would probably seal that up.

 

[chanley talon]

Ok the alternator was bad baring were dying in it. Voltage was reading like 12.00 so that meant it was dying . Now the voltage is 13.50 to 14.20 wich is way better. Thanks for all your help.