[ShadowWorks]

Hi

What is the most powerful alternator that can be bolt on to the 900?

The one i have is a Lucas job with 70 ampere peak output.

Anybody know of anything more powerful which can just be dropped in place and not give an other problems.

The other reason i want to replace the alternator is one of the grooves has been wider over many years of use and now it squeeks! its a horrible sound.

 

[john-w]

The alternators from 9000's have a higher output.

 

[freddo]

115 amps is the number.

 

[woywitka]

alternators from 9000's are terrible, they are always going south. all my 900's have had their originals.

 

[Matthew]

What sort of problems have you experienced with 9000 alternators then?

There's a 120A alternator listed for 9000s 1995-98 but I don't know if it's a "drop-in" fit on a 900 (doubt it).

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[ShadowWorks]

I dont know if the 9000 alternators are any worse TBH?

maybe the larger current draw shortens its life span?

The 900 has a twin V belt pulley and the 9000 i think have a flat belt? and i think the mounts are different?

Please take a look at this link and tell me if you guys think this would work in my 900?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7983041175&sspagename=ADME%3AL%3ARTQ%3AUK%3A1

I have a dual battery set up in my car and i need something like 140 ampere of output from my alternator.

120 would be good too.

 

[woywitka]

before i bought a saab i read many times about bad alternetors in 9000's. how often do we hear of a bad alternator in the c900 forum? all the 9000's i have seen have replaced alternators too.

 

[Matthew]

But the 9000's alternator is the same basic design as the 900s... I just don't see how they can have such a high rate of failure. How many reports of alternator failure are there in the 9000 Workshop?

ShadowWorks - 9-5s have 160A alternators IIRC. You might be able to get one to fit with some modification work. Alternatively lol: ) go shopping for an aftermarket performance alternator for a 1988-93 9000.

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[ShadowWorks]

I could be wrong as i have never owned a 9000 but if they have more electricals then this would explain a shorter life span, nothing really goes wrong apart from worn carbon bushes and regulators, this is normal ware and tear right.

maybe those alternator used a different parts supplier?

My car has the original alternator going on 15 years and 200K plus and it still works, but i suspect its never had to run at full current output day in day out, day and night driving changes the life span i would think?

I serviced my alternator a few months ago and the only problem i have is one belt is tight and the other lose, as one of the pully grooves has worn down over the years, it makes a horrible chirpy chiry sound between 1200 and 1800 rpm, i had planned to just find a replacement like for like but if i can get away with a 9-5 alternator than i would do so, its just the mounts look very different and the metal case does not look like it would think kindly of having something welded onto it.

I will try and find an aftermarket one that can just be dropped in place as i would like to keep it close to the original specs and use the bushes.

Thank you Matthew for offereing to host the pictures, i will snap some tomorrow.

 

[rally900]

the 9000 bosch 115a alternator is a bolt in affair, you just have to change the pulley to the 900 style. i ran one in my rally car for 4 years with no troubles, it was a used one that i bought off ebay. i also purchased a bosch rebuilt unit as a spare, never used it for the rally car but ended up putting it in my 9000 when it's alternator failed. it didn't fail electrically, the bearings seized. AFAIK it was original and you can't complain about 200,000 miles from one alternator. i run a 115a unit in my spg as well, no complaints either.

the problems is, and the reason they are more prone to going bad, that it is the exact same outer size, same case, etc. internally it is over-wound to produce more amps. more heat is generated, more load in the same package. keeping it cool will greatly help longevity.

James
Team Saabworks
http://www.saabworks.com

 

[cdaly]

the only problem i have is one belt is tight and the other lose, as one of the pully grooves has worn down over the years, it makes a horrible chirpy chiry sound between 1200 and 1800 rpm,

You could replace just the pulley. One nut and it's done...

 

[ShadowWorks]

the 9000 bosch 115a alternator is a bolt in affair, you just have to change the pulley to the 900 style.
the problems is, and the reason they are more prone to going bad, that it is the exact same outer size, same case, etc. internally it is over-wound to produce more amps. more heat is generated, more load in the same package. keeping it cool will greatly help longevity.

James
Team Saabworks
http://www.saabworks.com

Hello James thanks for your thoughts.

I understand why the heat up, they will probably have a smaller gauge wire in the alternator to allow the great number of turns to generate more current, and i noticed they dont have the cooling fan on the front, this could be a factor, even though its well ventilated.

If the bosch 115a is a bolt on job i will try and get one, its the best solution for me personally.

I had though about replacing the pully and then though i should really do the right thing and get a more powerful alternator, the chirp will be gone soon

 

[dmtinker]

I've had 4 900's and 2 9000's. I've replaced the alternator twice on one of the 9000's and never on the 900's.

 

[ShadowWorks]

I've had 4 900's and 2 9000's. I've replaced the alternator twice on one of the 9000's and never on the 900's.

Once again i cant comment on the 9000, only the 900, and the 900 i had was in California, the last ones made in 1994, that alternator failed at 112K very low mileage if you ask me.

I can not for the life of me remember who made that alternator? it never had any manufacturer markings or lables.

The Lucas one on my Scottish Saab has been in the car from day one with 206K and no problems, i think this is more of an issus about the quality of the alternator in certain cars, and we cant say 9000 fail more than 900, i am sure the make of alternator would shed some light one which ones fail.

 

[Matthew]

The original fit alternators were made by Bosch.

Is the Scottish Saab's alternator original or replacement? It'd be interesting to know if at some point Saab switched to using Lucas alts.

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[ShadowWorks]

I cant say for sure, but i have a full history from day one, i have never seen anything stating the alternator was replaced and it looks to be the same age as the car as it has a date of manufacture stamped on a plate.

My airflow meter is also an original Lucas job and not a Bosch one, strange now i think about it, as most of the Saabs i see have Bosch units.

 

[Jezzadee]

In Europe, later cars (1990+ ?) used Lucas systems instead of Bosch.

 

[Matthew]

In Europe, later cars (1990+ ?) used Lucas systems instead of Bosch.

Fuel system yes, but that doesn't necessarily affect the engine ancillaries.

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[KB]

alternators from 9000's are terrible, they are always going south. all my 900's have had their originals.

I put my pulley on a used 9000 alternator about 7 years ago and it has been great. Have 650 watt stereo and Jumbo Optima yellow top battery. No problems at all.

the problems is, and the reason they are more prone to going bad, that it is the exact same outer size, same case, etc. internally it is over-wound to produce more amps. more heat is generated, more load in the same package. keeping it cool will greatly help longevity.

My 91 9000 alternator has a bigger case. I put them side by side and could see it was a bit bigger.

What is the most powerful alternator that can be bolt on to the 900?

I heard that someone had a 150 amp one in their 900. They had to do more than just change a pulley. I don't have any more info. It was on TSN.

Cheers, KB.

 

[ShadowWorks]

650 watts is like 45 to 50 amps of current draw.
Equal to the main beams, cabin heater and a small stereo and other bits and bobs, the rear demister is a killer with 30 amps of current drive, the cooling fan is another 25 amperes, break lights take a good deal of power as well.

so the 70 amp alternator output is conservative IMHO for the 900.

I have peak current draw of 220 amperes from my amplifiers before i even use anything of the cars own electrical system, the fuel pump and coil use very little power TBO.

I have been looking at Volvo and BMW alternators made by bosch, close fitting almost perfect, but there only rated at 90.

There simply is not enough room for 2 alternators so one high power unit is a must.

I have two Bosch calcium deep cycle batteries rated at 74ah, this gives me a good foundation for large current dumping, but as we know batteries dont make power only store it, so i get alot of voltage drop once the current draw becomes larger than 150 amps, after 5 seconds the voltage drops from 14.2 to 13.5 another 3 seconds and I am down to 12.8 and then 2 more seconds am down to 11.8 then 10.5 volts.

I would like to be able to hold the voltage at 13.0 voltas for 30 seconds or more, so i really need a 150 ampere rated alternator.

thank goodness for the twin V belts as the alternator can get very stiff making this amount of power.

Are you guys sure the 9-5s alternator would fit with just a pully change?
is it self regulated?

This chirping is driving me mad;oops: