Alternator going?

[systembumping 10+ year member]

I drive a 1990 LS400 and I think I have an alternator problem but am not sure. I have a system hooked up to my car (Viper d1200.1 blah, blah) and on Jan. 1, I was riding with the music blasting and my amp went into protect. I said no big deal just overheated, well it didn't come back on and my car started making a noise liking bearings or peices of metal were frying around the fan clutch. I disconnected my power wire and reconnected it and my lights started flashing with no music on. There isn't any noise being made now (problem isn't fixed though) but everytime I hook the amp back up my lights flash (even with the radio off). I even hooked up another amp and it still flickers.

-My car starts and runs fine

-It doesn't go dead

-I've had a sytem in my car for almost two years and I just started having problems.

-I had my fan clutch replaced thinking it was the problem, nothing changed.

Please help before I toss this car lol.

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[azbass 5,000+ posts]

take it to a mechanic? etc

 

[systembumping 10+ year member]

I did he replaced my fan clutch, basically fixed what he wanted to fix.

 

[Max_Power 10+ year member]

As much as I hate to give them buisness......I think Autozone will benchtest an alternator for free. Give that a try, and if thats not the problem, search through the basic wiring of the engine. If thats not the problem check grounds. If thats not the problem be prepared to spend uber bux!//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[systembumping 10+ year member]

Autozone tests are not sufficent. From what I know . . . an alternator when alive will always post its amperage and charge the battery. An auto zone test will not tell you if its DYING, it will only tell you once it is no longer good. If it is DYING you wont know till it doesnt do what its supposed to. It either works or it doesnt, there is no real inbetween with alternators, however when they dont work they can put out low amperage. Does it get HOT after runs that are 30 minutes? ANy weird noises comming from it? I just bought my alternator but I havent replaced it yet. . . . It does still work but I am not going to take a chance of it dying on me since it is making noises and getting hot really fast. It tests fine but I did take it to two mechanics and they said it has life in it but no sure way of saying how long.

Yeah it makes noise like something is rattling around inside it. Do alternators have bearings, that may be the problem., I can't even see the alternnator so I don't no if it runs hot.

 

[mlstrass 5,000+ posts]

Yes they have bearings inside.

You can use a DMM and test for voltage output. Not sure what your car should put out though. If it's going bad you will see a drop....