XPost: sci.electronics.design, sci.electronics.equipment, sci.electronics.misc   
   XPost: sci.electronics.repair   
   From: see@thesig.net   
      
   Last year the alternator on my Toyota cooked the stator windings. I didn¹t   
   look any further and replaced it with a rebuilt alternator & regulator from   
   the local parts supplier.   
      
   Now (7 or 8 months later) the replacement has failed in the same mode. I¹m   
   suspicious. Also confused:   
      
   If a diode opens there wouldn¹t be an increased load on the stator windings.   
   If a diode shorts, there also wouldn¹t be any increase, just a decrease in DC   
   output voltage.   
      
   If the alternator output is shorted, since it¹s connected directly to the   
   battery (+) terminal, this would result in smoke and fire, at least a burnt   
   fusible link. None of this has occurred. (Well, the windings are discolored   
   and the smell is what clued me in to these problems.) When I put in a   
   replacement alternator I¹m quite confident everything will look just fine.   
   Until next time.     
      
   What could cause these symptoms? Twice?   
      
   Thanks!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)