What Kills My Alternator?

[Flash]

What kills an alternator? More specifically my alternator? I replaced it 2 years ago with a brand new Bosch. And now after working on my car for a couple months I drive it to work for the first time and on the drive home my gauge freaked out that there was low voltage. I check everything, and the alternator is pumping out a solid 3.0-3.2 volts at idle. I even had my technician friend test it on test equipment at work. It said alternator was dead.
My alternator is spotless,there aren't any leaks anywhere. My battery was dead after I finished work on the car, so jumping it then might have strained it. But then I replaced it with a new Optima.

 

[Dsmx17]

is your avatar a pic of your engine bay? looks like your wastegate is pretty close, maybe the dump is cooking it? did you spill any fluids on it recently?

 

[Flash]

Yes that is my engine bay. Maybe the dump is the issue. The heat maybe? Because the alternator itself is very clean, no used exhaust on it anywhere.

 

[Ghostriderdsm]

dead battery=dead alternator

To much heat= dead alternator

over spinning the alternator=dead alternator

any fluid in it=dead alternator

 

[BoostFrenzy]

looks like your wastegate is pretty close, maybe the dump is cooking it?

Exactly my thinking. Alternators don't like heat. If it keeps killing them this fast, you may want to look into the alternator relocation threads and see if it would be an advantage to you.

 

[JayRolla]

I always like to go with oem or alterstart alternators. Never ran a bosch but they usually make good products. I would think about making a heat shield for it.

 

[2slow4now]

running with a dead/weak battery will make your alternator work double time (nothing likes working like that) and plus the added heat from your waste gate. ghostriderdsm is right on it.
SWEET looking engine compartment!

 

[Jeff99GS]

This is going to sound like a stupid question but do you have Underbody Streetglow neons??

My GF had Underbody neons on her Civic and the shop that installed them made a crappy connection near the alternator. Well It was ARCing high voltage on the alt and causeing it to go bad every 3 months.

Look for shorts in your cars wiring and check it for Parasitic draws.