L300 alternator in Calgary?

[naterade]

Hey Everyone

Having charging-system troubles on my Deli, have not figured out exactly what it is yet, but worst-case scenario is my alternator is dead and needs replacing/rebuilding

I am getting married on Friday and need my van to be in working condition, so I need to try and figure this out asap.

I am wondering if there is an L300 alternator available in Calgary, or if anyone in Calgary could rebuild mine in a day or two...

I am going to climb underneath the van tonight to check all connections, belts, voltage, etc, to see if the problem is minor, but if the alternator is shot, I'm hoping to have it fixed by Wednesday


Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you can provide.

Nate

[Big-Bird]

If you can risk driving it contact a nearby Canadian Tire and request a check of your charging system. Parts Source might be able to do this as well.

Grab a multimeter that can read up to 20volts DC and test the alternator output yourself.

All you need to do is put the multimeter leads on the battery while it idles. You should see around 12-13 volts at idle....bump up the engine revs and the voltage should be 13-14.5 volts.

If the range is within these numbers chances are only your battery is weak. Parts Source can do a load test on your whole charging system in the parking lot. Takes 5 minutes and I think its free!

Make sure all your connections are clean and tight to and from the battery, wire brush any corrosion.
Check the ground wire from the battery and ensure the connection on the engine block is clean and secure. There should also be one maybe more smaller ground wires that ground the engine to the chassis and body.

[92pajero]

I know this is a long shot, but up in edmonton there is a rebuild shop called Joes Electric, old polish guy can rebuild anything and can frankenstein parts from other models to help you out.

[naterade]

Thanks guys.

I am going to do a full self-diagnosis this evening, to ensure it is the alternator and nothing minor.

Mardy on the coast can courier me a rebuilt alternator for a decent price, so if I do need one I will likely go that way, just so I get exactly what I need.

I am certain the battery is fine - my warning light actually came on half way to Slave Lake (from Calgary) and lasted there and the whole way home less about 50km. When we stopped at the rest stop just outside Airdrie, she wouldn't start again. Luckily I carry a 12v deep cycle in the back to run my inverter, so I switched the dead one out and got home.

[mararmeisto]

I would avoid Canadian Tire's help if you can. They have a very simplified mindset of fixing vehicles "by-the-numbers" and since they won't be able look up a Delica in their repair manuals, they won't be much help.

At least, that's what a number of us have found out here in BC. They either flat out refuse to work on the vehicle, or they get all confused and then refuse to work on the vehicle.

[Firesong]

When I had to redo mine in Saskatoon I took it to a local rebuild shop.
They had it ready next day no worries.
I would think Calgary should have a rebuild shop or 12 in it.

FS

[mararmeisto]

When I had to redo mine in Saskatoon I took it to a local rebuild shop.
They had it ready next day no worries.
I would think Calgary should have a rebuild shop or 12 in it.

FS

That's an alternator rebuild shop. Calgary'll definitely have them. My understanding is it's a fairly common alternator - it's just fitted into an uncommon vehicle (in our market).

[naterade]

Thanks, I have emailed Probuilt Alternators about rebuilding mine.

Gave as much info as I could about the van, etc, he was looking for a part number for the alternator. I combed through this site to find it, but could only find "i think it is MD162964" ... I also sent him the delica manual pages for the alternator

I am guessing he should be able to do this?

I will attempt to remove the alternator tonight if I confirm that is the problem, and take it in, if I get a reply that they are willing to take on the challenge...

[naterade]

Update: Probuilt tells me the parts to rebuild are too limited for this alternator, but they can get me a new one for $345

Mardy can get me one sooner and for less, so I may end up doing that.

Fingers crossed it is a simpler problem like the belts or connections....

[Firesong]

I believe my rebuild cost me $65-70 and about 3" of skin off my knuckles.

:)
FS

[FalcoColumbarius]

Update: Probuilt tells me the parts to rebuild are too limited for this alternator, but they can get me a new one for $345

Mardy can get me one sooner and for less, so I may end up doing that.

Fingers crossed it is a simpler problem like the belts or connections....

Naderade, have you checked to see if your terminals and cable ends are free of corrosion? A little bit of corrosion that is hardly noticeable could inhibit the charge and it doesn't cost anything to do, although you can spend $5.00 on a terminal brush, which is worth it in my opinion.

Falco.

[naterade]

Naderade, have you checked to see if your terminals and cable ends are free of corrosion?

Falco.

Battery terminals are corrosion free, and well connected. The van turns over and starts without issue.

Checked voltage right at the alternator while it was running (under red rubber cap), it read 0.30 volts.

Battery currently in there is at about 11.5 volts and voltage doesn't change once the van is running.

Belts look slightly worn but everything turns while running. The alt belts do appear a bit 'wobbly' while running, although I don't know if that would affect anything.

Pretty certain at this point it is the alternator that is worn out. I put some compressed (canned) air through where I could get the straw in, but that didn't change anything.

My next step is to source an alternator and perhaps find someone to install it for me, I am not sure if I could do it myself. I have installed alternators before, but not on a Delica, not on my back underneath the vehicle, not in such a cramped space....

Not thrilled this is happening the week I am getting married, but glad it didn't happen while we were on our US honeymoon....

[yojimbo]

Its more trouble than a standard alternator install, I've done this a few times now and could probably do it in a couple of hours now I guess. It's a lot easier with the oil filter off, and it really requires the drivers floor out too. The extra vacuum components add to the hassle, you have to get the outlet lined up off the car, as you cant adjust it on the car, stuff like that, but then I've had to swap the outlets over usually as my new alternators have come with the slightly wrong ones.

This probably isnt a job you want to do during this week, but any mechanic can do this, if you ask them to do an oil change at the same time, while the filter is off, there is a lot more room to work, especially for connecting the vacuum lines. If they know how the drivers floor comes out that will help too.

[naterade]

Well, I am ordering a new alternator from the alternator shop (ProBuilt) and I called Kirkham Automotive and they should be able to install the new one for me on Thursday. Not an ideal situation, but I need my van pretty bad for Friday, and I don't know if I would survive/stay sane if I took on the replacement job myself this week.

[naterade]

Can anyone help me find the original Mitsubishi OEM part number for my alternator??

This is the number ProBuilt needs to order the replacement.

I searched this site high and low yesterday without any real luck, just speculative numbers......



Nevermind, I called another auto-electric place and they are willing to rebuild and re-install my existing alternator for much less $$. Hope it all works out!!!