Today my charge light decided to come on. The weird part is that it dims at idle and gets brighter as i rev the car up. I believe its the alternator but I want to get other peoples opinions before i change it.
I have the 110 amp alternator that came with my ZE and was going to put it on but I just wanted to get my car running so i went with the K8. If you guys confirm that my problem is the alternator I'll just go ahead and swap it out.
Need some input
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PATDIESEL
- Senior Member
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Sounds like the voltage regulator is going. It is a part of the alt and thus replace the whole alt. You cna have the alt checked at the auto parts store before you acutally buy the new one to make sure that the alt is bad. Ask then to take a look at the voltage regulator too.
ZE -strait neck,headers,2.5 exhaust,pheno spacers,lower cross member,GC coils,MS struts,Brembo slotted rotors,filled MS mounts,SS brake/clutch lines, CAI,to rear bat reloc,Hella headlamps,Hella DE fogs 180WHP
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Jerry Jarreau
- Junior Member
- Posts: 4
- Joined: August 28th, 2006, 2:00 pm
voltage regulater and alternator, 1 unit?
If the voltage regulator is part of the alternator then why is it listed as a seperate part on autozone?
"Voltage Regulator for a
1993 Mazda MX-3
Item Part
No.
Warranty Core Value Unit
Price Availability
Store Web
WELLS VR859 3 MO $78.99"
Just curious, as I think mine may be bad as well... as you can probably tell, I am no mechanic, but with my financial situation I am having to learn.
"Voltage Regulator for a
1993 Mazda MX-3
Item Part
No.
Warranty Core Value Unit
Price Availability
Store Web
WELLS VR859 3 MO $78.99"
Just curious, as I think mine may be bad as well... as you can probably tell, I am no mechanic, but with my financial situation I am having to learn.
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PATDIESEL
- Senior Member
- Posts: 4476
- Joined: August 13th, 2001, 2:01 am
- antispam: ~SPAM*SUX~
- Location: Atlanta, GA.
I've never seen it listed as a seperate part. I know it is incorporated into the alt though. Perhaps you can get to it easily and replace it, but for the trouble I'd just get a whole new alt.
note: there are also aftermarket voltage regulators that have been used to success. Some have even gained dyno proven HP from using a aftermarket voltage regulator. They can be added as a substitute to the factory one or inline with the factory one.
note: there are also aftermarket voltage regulators that have been used to success. Some have even gained dyno proven HP from using a aftermarket voltage regulator. They can be added as a substitute to the factory one or inline with the factory one.
ZE -strait neck,headers,2.5 exhaust,pheno spacers,lower cross member,GC coils,MS struts,Brembo slotted rotors,filled MS mounts,SS brake/clutch lines, CAI,to rear bat reloc,Hella headlamps,Hella DE fogs 180WHP
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hgallegos915
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6451
- Joined: June 19th, 2004, 2:01 am
- Location: El Paso Tx U.S
- Contact:
mine was doing that.. what was it? the nut to the alternator was loose..was dpoing the exact same thing yours was doing. If everything is fine.. its time to swap alternator, im saving mine as a spare.
-hec
MX-3 w/ curved neck millenia klde, boosted @ 5 psi. /bov and wastegate are good!/ nitto drag radial/ gutted interior/ millenia red top injectors, vortech fmu/aem wideband/ all bolts ons/ Car put together 100% by me. Mechanic? who needs a mechanic? ew.. real men work on their own cars!
MX-3 w/ curved neck millenia klde, boosted @ 5 psi. /bov and wastegate are good!/ nitto drag radial/ gutted interior/ millenia red top injectors, vortech fmu/aem wideband/ all bolts ons/ Car put together 100% by me. Mechanic? who needs a mechanic? ew.. real men work on their own cars!