Breakdown Information
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RV particulars: 37' Fleetwood Bounder, Diesel Pusher.
Driveline (Engine, Transmission): Cummins 5.9L, 190HP, Allison 4 speed.
Miles: 126,000
Year: 1994
Break Down Description: Alternator would not charge chassis battery, dim lights.
Symptoms: Dash voltage meter went high for about an hour or so before failure, then into discharge and stayed there.
Effect: Had to cross wire house batteries to chassis (starting) battery and run genset to stay on road. (Genset set up to charge all batteries using the 120V to 14V converter - shorted the 'Aux' switch on the dash so the batteries were crossed with a relay used for starting the rig with a low chassis battery).
Cause: Bad alternator.
Called Freightliner and found my alternator is a Delco 21 SI @ 100 amp. They asked $470 before shipping. Called several places but eventually found a local auto parts store that had them at $162 total (after core return), includes tax and $10 for them to swap the pulley. Difficult part was the part number mis-match between the Freightliner p/n and the Delco generic p/n.
Although this alternator was caked with dirt and road debris, it performed it's job for over 126,000 miles. I found one of terminals on the internal voltage regulator was so corroded it fell off when I moved the connector.
Good job Delco.
Outcome: Replaced bad alternator, dress up wiring, back on road. Three hours plus part chase time.
Driveline (Engine, Transmission): Cummins 5.9L, 190HP, Allison 4 speed.
Miles: 126,000
Year: 1994
Break Down Description: Alternator would not charge chassis battery, dim lights.
Symptoms: Dash voltage meter went high for about an hour or so before failure, then into discharge and stayed there.
Effect: Had to cross wire house batteries to chassis (starting) battery and run genset to stay on road. (Genset set up to charge all batteries using the 120V to 14V converter - shorted the 'Aux' switch on the dash so the batteries were crossed with a relay used for starting the rig with a low chassis battery).
Cause: Bad alternator.
Called Freightliner and found my alternator is a Delco 21 SI @ 100 amp. They asked $470 before shipping. Called several places but eventually found a local auto parts store that had them at $162 total (after core return), includes tax and $10 for them to swap the pulley. Difficult part was the part number mis-match between the Freightliner p/n and the Delco generic p/n.
Although this alternator was caked with dirt and road debris, it performed it's job for over 126,000 miles. I found one of terminals on the internal voltage regulator was so corroded it fell off when I moved the connector.
Good job Delco.
Outcome: Replaced bad alternator, dress up wiring, back on road. Three hours plus part chase time.
