4 alternators in 15 months. WTF?

[jon357]

Greets all. Pretty sure this is the right place for a 2003 Protege ES 1.6L.....

This thing is chewing through the alternators and was hoping for some suggestions as to what could be going on. Last time around the voltage regulator was sending out almost 18v.... Girlfriend drove it for 2 months with the battery light on and the battery eventually boiled over. So.....

Now there is yet another re-manufactured alternator and new battery in it and I'm praying to the car gods that the problem just goes away. I think I know better though....

Suggestions? I was told the PCM could be the cause. Any other likely candidates that I can trouble shoot besides a 1.5-2k dealer invoice for a new PCM?

I'm tired of dealing with the folks at NTB and would rather get my hands dirty and find out what is really going on since they seem to be incapable of doing it themselves. The last overvoltage caused a massive blowout of lamps everywhere and the drivers side door window is also not working now.....

I really appreciate any and all suggestions. This car is killing me.

[evilmonkeyMSP]

you posted this in the F/S section. moving to the correct section.

[jon357]

Sorry bout that. I actually meant to post in the protege section. :rolleyes:

Thanks for moving it altho I kinda wish it was back one forum to get more exposure. That's where I meant to post it anyway...

EDIT - Thanks!

[evilmonkeyMSP]

done

[MaxPower]

A. The 2003 Protege ES does not have a 1.6L engine.
B. Sounds like the problem is the voltage regulator. I'm not sure where the voltage regulator is on the Protege. If it is in the ECU, do NOT buy a new ECU for an astronomical price from the dealership. Instead get a used one from a junkyard, ebay, or from this forum--it should cost <$100 or so.
C. Reman alternators can be junk. If I had to replace my alternator, I'd buy a Mazda OEM alternator from onlinemazdaparts.com (best OEM prices).
D. Obviously the part-changers at NTB do not know what they are doing. Take the car to a REAL mechanic before more things get damaged.
E. Voltage regulator: http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/raframecatalog.php?carcode=1416800&parttype=4884&a=FRc1416800k934031 (think this is installed in the alternator).
F. Driving around for 2 months at 18V can kill a lot of electrical devices in the car.

[jon357]

Hey.... Thanks for the info.

Your right. The engine is a 1.8L

And yea, NTB charges $251 for a remaned alternator when you can buy a new one at Autozone for $225. I really have nothing good to say about those folks at NTB. Just an incompetent lot. Since it's my girlfriends car, I figured I would just pay to have it done (for the warranty just incase we were not together in 8 or 9 months). Damn I'm a nice guy.... (screwy)

The voltage regulator is inside the alternator. NTB gets them rebuilt from NAPA. Not even 24 hours after a new alternator, it goes bad and needs another one. The NAPA remans are complete and utter JUNK.

And yea, I gave my girlfriend the lecture about ignoring idiot lights.... "But.... Sweetie... It's called an idiot light. I thought you were supposed to ignore those things so I just kept driving it...." (beer)

Now I've got a door actuator, window motor and a tail light harness to replace on this damn thing to get it all in working order again.

Thanks again for all the good info. Bookmarked.

[joe_mn]

i bought a used car with a ton of receipts. the starter died. i found the napa warranty paper. took it out and went in to napa and got new starter. sold car a few months later. than another car i owned which had an identical motor/starter puked the starter but i had given the paperwork to the new owner. could have gotten 1 more free starter.