Alternator regulator voltage failure

[Q45tech]

Had a 90Q come in with an after market rebuilt alternator [13 months old]........the reg failed and 18-20 volts ran throughout the electrical system.

So far about 5 expensive modules [$3,000 at retail] have failed from the overvoltage.............who knows how many of the other 15 or so are just hanging on waiting to fail.

Time chime control, abs computer, air bag computer.........those modules that have a keep alive memory path seemed affected the worst..........

Think twice before selecting a low quality rebuilt alternator, as the protective fusing doesn't always blow fast enough....especially if the voltage is just a little to high above the nominal 14 volts.

[HeavyDuty]

ACK! That's awful, no way I'd use any aftermarket pieces on my personal car, if a shop is smart, they won't even install the junk, particularly hard parts.

Electrical bugaboos are just the worst.

[Jeff Williams]

OUCH!:eek:

Electrical parts are way too critical, to cheapen-out (is that a word?) on.

Thanks for the info, Dennis. You probably just saved some of us several thousand dollars, in future mistakes.

You Da Man! :ylsuper

[Q451990]

If he needs an ECU or TCU and wants to go ahead and upgrade to the 93 versions, I'll be happy to ship them to him at $300 for the pair. These are from a federal standard Q (no active, hicas, or tcs)

I'll test them for a day or two first.

Heath

[Jesda]

I'd throw an aftermarket rebuilt alternator in a 1987 Sentra. But... thats about it. You just cant treat a Q like your momma's old Civic. OEM or nothing!

-Jesda

[Q45tech]

Luckily we have 4-6 Q that can be used to supply the modules but the owner is fainting just at the cost of a new oem alternator........we may fix it just to fix it..........then remove all the modules as this particular car may not be worth the cost.

Oh yeah, when we exposed the console [air bag ecu] someone had drilled 2 holes thru it to mount something in the tray, then it appears multiple coffees were spilled into the module before the current problem...........thats why the air bag light was blinking.

It gets worse.........the shift lock compter blown........I wouldn't trust a thing in the car that doesn't get replaced.

[Jeff Williams]

I think someone should draw up a sketch of a 1st Gen Q45, as some kind of monster, and submit it to Jesse James, for the Monster Garage.

They could use this Q, as the donor car.

Dennis could be the technical expert.

[Q451990]

Amazing how dumb people can be... Drilled holes through the airbag computer!!! Wow... even if you didn't remove the tray to drill the holes, wouldn't you feel the bit hitting metal?

Sounds like a lost cause...

Heath

[elwesso]

Good info... Some people shouldnt be Q owners.... TERRIBLE....

Jeff... Thats a cool idea. but Id have a hard time accepting them molesting a Q like that...... Maybe a 97-01..

[Q45tech]

Poor people get suckered all the time into buying 10-15 year old lux cars........Before the Q and the LS came out they drove Caddies and Town Cars. Somehow genetically they knew MB and BMW 12 cylinders were not for them.............but the Japanese fooled them and the Lexus $3-$5k higher asking price forced [steered] them towards the Q.

They just get blinded by the good paint and interior.Everytime someone mentions aftermarket remanned parts I cringe, knowing the death rattle will be soon..

[qship96]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Q45tech "]Poor people get suckered all the time into buying 10-15 year old lux cars........Before the Q and the LS came out they drove Caddies and Town Cars. Somehow genetically they knew MB and BMW 12 cylinders were not for them.............but the Japanese fooled them and the Lexus $3-$5k higher asking price forced [steered] them towards the Q.

how true! just come to Baltimore city,and watch all the ragged out old Q,s profilin by on their shiny rims,doesnt matter that the body may have more waves in it than the atlantic ocean,the rims and tires make it the bomb!