Topic: 136a alt upgrade question

[Jeffy]

Actually started searching last night after reviewing the schematic until got a headache but guess I wasn't using right buzz words, good to know it's out there.  Hmmm, some reason I was thinking that the fan constantly cutting off and on with compressor would shorten life of fan and relay.  Might just let it ride then will ponder on it and look for your thread on the harness while I'm at work tonight.

Thanks
Mike

Well on the Wranglers the fan runs all the time since it's engine driven.  I think the Cherokee's run the aux fan all the time when the AC is on.   Every aftermarket setup I've seen has the fan run off the clutch signal though.  I decided to go this rount so the fan isn't running while I'm on the highway.

Anytime you're moving the fan is turning anyway so there should be less wear on the motor if it has to start up.  If you're idling for an extended period, your fan should be turning on eventually anyway in which case it should override the clutch signal.  Relays are cheap though.  I'd rather have to replace a relay then the fan.  I haven't had any issues with relays since I changed out my wiring and connectors.  Before that I was melting fuse holders and the relay terminals because of the increased resistance in the cheap connectors.

[tbirde7]

Well knock on wood so far so good, going to work last night was the first distance test of the new setups and everything went well.  Jeffy, yea makes sense on the relays, I have atleast 3 more in my electrical box so most likely gonna let it be.  Well I have 2 of the 3 upgrades that have the biggest priority done, the next task is to do something with those headlights, just doesn't seem to light up the road enough for my old eyes, LoL.  So gonna start searching the forum and web for some other options.

Thanks again for the info
Mike

[Jeffy]

Hella E-Code's are great replacements.

[grumpygy]

Hella E-Code's are great replacements.

Yep

[dwtaylorpdx]

I've had the E-codes, great highway lights, I have Cibie inserts (Not DOT) and like them better for the near ground illumination. Both beat the snot out of the old sealed beams.

Cheers.
Dave

[tbirde7]

Good to go thanks, just ordered them with 100/80w bulbs will upgrade wiring on headlights as well.

[sharpxmen]

do you have a daytime running lights module? it might not work if you do, just a heads up.

[tbirde7]

Nope don't have DRL's.  Got to lights with bulbs for $110 that's not bad.

Thanks
Mike

[Jeffy]

I just used the DOT legal 60/55w bulbs since they're really cheap.  Even with stock wiring, the new lights are a HUGE improvement over the old ones.  Not sure if I'd go with 100/80's personally.  I do too much town/city driving.  You just have to make sure you get E-code housings and not DOT housings.  The lens makes a huge difference.

[tbirde7]

Will do.  I'll try stock bulbs first.

Thanks

[dwtaylorpdx]

You can get H4 65/100 bulbs as well.

Its what I run, keeps the low beams low and the high beams high...

Cheers.


Dave

[tbirde7]

Well got good news and bad.
Good:  ordered of the hella lights in and installed difference is literally night and day great upgrade. Thanks for recommendation.

Bad:  jeep was running fine no problems at all.
(History: 4.0 TB upgrade, headers, optima red cell battery, 136a alt upgrade 6ga wire to 150a CB to side post with orig wire to PDC eliminated.  Also newer style pig tail not posts grn to grn / bl/wht to grn/org.  Top post PDC feeder upgraded.  Taurus fan/volvo relay setup wired to external Fuse block to pos side post of battery. 2/0 ga ground and hella light upgrade)


So Saturday went off road scouting for new deer stand site went through some mud and low water. Ran fine there and home.  Drove sat night no problems new lights awesome.

Drove pic-n-pull Sunday morning no problems.  Washed vehicle (hood closed) and up under fender wells sat about 2 hours got in to go to work get bout 5 miles down road and check guages light comes on and all guages are at rest.  Monday morning pull 136a alt took to Advance don't think kid really new how to test but said alt was not being excited and was bad.  Went home and put old alt back on new pigtail removed.  Started jeep still isn't charging.

So do you guys think this is just bad luck, or something got wet or dunno.

I know Alt is regulated by PCM and I'm going to check all connections again for a 3rd time but is there something else before I look into buying a PCM.   The orig alt worked fine and that's what my head is wrapped around right now, alt just don't go bad sitting on shelf.

Thanks
Mike

Haven't had time to have old alt tested yet at work now.

[aw12345]

Find an alternator that is self exciting and has a internal regulator and never look back.
we have several hundred trucks at work and about the only alternator we use is a 130 amp Nippon Denso that's self exciting and has an internal regulator.
This and some of the big Delco's are extremely reliable alternators.
If you can get one of those to fit, you would not have to fudge with the PCM, all it needs is a charge wire to the battery and that's it

[sharpxmen]

check what voltage you're getting from the PCM to the alternator, if its 0 (zero) then the PCM is bad (might have been the alt swap that caused it but i ran mine for years w/o problems but it's not an AB and was a direct swap as i didn't have to add a pigtail).

[tbirde7]

Plan on testing further once get off work it's got my head crazy as everything was fine.  During the upgrade I had tin covers off both alternators and traced points to ensure the pigtail was wired correctly even traced all way back to PCM.  It's just weird.  If it is PCM thought about doing external regulator but would be my luck a check engine light would pop or something else would go wrong.

Thanks
Mike