TECH TIPS FOR SEPTEMBER, 1996

THERE'S GOOD NEWS AND MAYBE SOME BAD NEWS; GENERAL MOTORS HAS STOPPED EQUIPPING CARS WITH THE CS130 ALTERNATOR. THIS IS THE ONE THAT FIRST SUFFERED FROM REAR BEARING FAILURE, THEN FROM FRONT BEARING FAILURE (ALMOST ALWAYS CAUSED BY A BAD TENSIONER), AND ALWAYS FROM A SHORT LIFE SPAN, WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE FAULT OF THE CAR DESIGNERS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR CARE ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR'S NEED TO COOL ITSELF; AND WHY SHOULD THEY? IT ALMOST ALWAYS OUTLASTED THE WARRANTY.

DELCO HAS NOW BROUGHT OUT THE CS130 DIF (DIF = DUAL INTERNAL FANS). WHILE THE ALTERNATOR IS CALLED OFFICIALLY A CS130DIF, EVERYONE BUT THE ENGINEERS WILL REFER TO IT AS THE CS130D. THIS ALTERNATOR STARTED MAKING ITS APPEARANCE ON SOME 1994 VEHICLES AND WILL SOON BE THE ALTERNATOR OF CHOICE FOR GM. AS THE NAME IMPLIES THERE IS NO EXTERNAL COOLING FAN, AND IT IS NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THE UNIT HAS TWO ON THE INSIDE.

THERE IS A VERY HEAVY BATTERY POST STICKING STRAIGHT OUT THE BACK AND ON ALL MODELS SEEN SO FAR, THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE ALTERNATOR IS ENCLOSED IN BLACK PLASTIC. ON SOME MODELS THIS PLASTIC COVER HAS HOLES AND/OR EXTRUSIONS FOR ATTACHING BREATHER VENTS. THIS ALTERNATOR USES THE SAME ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AS THE CS130 BUT THE REGULATOR PLUG WAS REDESIGNED AND WILL NOT INTERCHANGE WITH THE CS130. THE PLUG WAS REDESIGNED TO MAKE A BETTER SEAL IN ORDER TO PREVENT CORROSION FROM FORMING ON THE REGULATOR PINS. IN MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THIS HAS NOT BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM, SO THE PURPOSE BEHIND THE TIME AND EFFORT PUT INTO THE REDESIGN ELUDES ME.

THE ALTERNATOR APPEARS NOT TO BE READILY REBUILDABLE AND WILL PROBABLY BE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE WHEN IT COMES TIME TO REPLACE IT. SINCE I ALREADY HEAR THAT THERE ARE SOME PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE REAR BEARING AND A SHORT LIFE SPAN, I QUESTION IF THE FIRST FEW MODELS ARE GOING TO BE MUCH OF AN IMPROVEMENT. COULD THIS BE ANOTHER CASE OF, A CHANGE FOR THE SAKE OF ? ONE FEATURE OF THIS ALTERNATOR THAT COULD LEAD TO SOME PROBLEMS IS THAT THE REGULATOR HAS A TEMPERATURE SENSOR, IF ITS INTERNAL TEMPERATURE REACHES 280 DEGREES F, IT WILL SHUT DOWN AND TURN THE IDIOT LIGHT ON.  A WHILE AGO I READ AN ARTICLE WHICH INDICATED THAT THE UNDER HOOD TEMPERATURES OF MODERN CARS WAS APPROACHING 270 DEGREES F, WHICH DOESN'T LEAVE MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR. SUPPOSE THAT YOU ARE COMING DOWN THE 400 ON A REALLY HOT MONDAY AFTER THE AUGUST FIRST HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

IT'S 95 OUTSIDE AND YOU'RE STUCK IN STOP & GO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS, WITH THE KIDS BORED AND CRYING AND THE AIR CONDITIONER RUNNING FULL TILT, AND THE IDIOT LIGHT COMES ON TELLING YOU THAT THE ALTERNATOR HAS STOPPED CHARGING. TALK ABOUT INCREASING YOUR STRESS LEVEL.  NOW, YOU MAKE THE NEXT REST AREA WITHOUT STALLING AND GO TO FINDm SOMEONE TO HELP, BUT, THIS IS A REST AREA ON THE 400, WHERE THEY SELL FOOD AND GAS BUT WOULDN'T KNOW A CHARGING PROBLEM FROM YOUR AUNT HILDA'S HAT. THEY CAN CALL YOU A TOW TRUCK, WHO WILL TAKE YOUR CAR (BUT NOT YOU) TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY. WHEN YOU FINALLY GET TO THE REPAIR FACILITY, THE MECHANIC (IF HE'S HONEST) WILL LIKELY TELL YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOUR CAR, THAT IT IS CHARGING AND THE IDIOT LIGHT IS OUT.  OH! AND BY THE WAY THE TOW WAS $75.00 AND THE CHARGING SYSTEM CHECK IS ANOTHER $50.00.

WHAT HAPPENED? THE REGULATOR HAD REACHED ITS THERMAL SHUT DOWN POINT BECAUSE OF THE PROLONGED PERIOD OF IDLING (INABILITY TO COOL), WITH THE LOADS OF THE LIGHTS AND THE AIR CONDITIONER. YOU COULD HAVE SAVED YOURSELF $125.00 BY PULLING OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY, SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, AND SITTING WITH THE HOOD UP FOR ABOUT 15 to 20 MINUTES.  THE EXACT CONDITIONS TO MAKE THIS OCCUR AGAIN MIGHT NOT HAPPEN FOR MONTHS, IF EVER, BUT IT COULD BE THE NEXT WEEKEND ON THE 400. A COUPLE OF REPEATS OF THIS, AND THE CUSTOMERS COULD LOSE FAITH IN BOTH THEIR CAR AND THEIR MECHANIC'S ABILITIES.