Anyone install a High output Alternator

[zizaspeed]

So I have only owned my msp for about 3 weeks now and I can't help but notice our cars electrical weakness at idle. So it got me thinking about upgrading my alternator but after doing a little research I have seen a few people saying no not to upgrade cause it will fry the ECU for some reason.

But when I got to a site that sells high output alternators, in one of the reviews a person asks the same question I am about frying ECU and the customer service tech in a nutshell says no it will not and that it is a common misconception, just because your alternator has more amps, does not mean all of it is forced into the ECU's throat, it is just there to be used as necesary.

Has anyone tried a highout alternator?

 

[dacquesta1]

i havent but could you link to the site that does? i do not see how it would fry the ecu considering the amperage from the alternator goes to the battery...not to the ecu.

 

[AusOrion]

I'm pretty sure that Focus had one installed.

Search around for Maniac Electric Motors.

 

[zizaspeed]

http://www.maniacelectricmotors.com/140amphioual4.html

Thats the link, scroll to the bottom and read the answer to the review.

 

[CHIQLES]

WOW def going to consider when mine takes a dive.. since the car bogs down when my fans turn on thanks for the link...

 

[zizaspeed]

Yeah for sure, I'm probably going to be doing it soon. It's annoying how the car runs at idle

 

[POODLES]

you'd probably need to change to an appropriate battery to handle the added amps the new alternator would put out. a regular battery battery the car came with may not be able to take the added amps sent to it. maybe.

 

[zizaspeed]

Possibly, my car already has an upgraged battery so it should be alright. The problem is going to be actually changing the alternator, it's on the back side of the motor. I'm interested to see if anyone on here has changed it before

 

[hornsfan10609]

Plenty of people have done it, it's really not that hard to do at all.

 

[zizaspeed]

yeah I just took a quick look and noticed it was on back side of motor, and was just trying to thinking bout if changing it myself was a possibility

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

i know the member cityracer has been running one of those maniac motors upgraded alts for a few years on his 2.0. and its a pretty nice upgrade.

 

[zizaspeed]

oh for real? yeah I'm interested in how one would go about installing a new alternator, it just looks like it is in a difficult place to get too

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

its actually not that bad. and only a few bolts. its a pretty simple thing to replace. it easier then replacing the turbo and alot of other things.

 

[big Lou]

I have had an upgrded alternator for over a year now with no problems! I also do run an optima to keep up with amperage.

 

[zizaspeed]

oh nice, have you noticed a difference in terms of lights not dimming, car running a little smoother, from an electrical stand point?

 

[o0n8]

easiest way is to remove the intake mani to get to the alt, also look into building your own grounding kit. There's a how to and that has helped a lot of members out. I removed the rear sub and amp and haven't had any issues

 

[xxxmonoxidechil]

i have to agree. dont even worry about an alternator upgrade until you have already done the BIG3 wire upgrade, and some better grounds with a quality battery. that will fix probably 90% of people electrical issues. not many people really need a bigger alt. (except the KL guys) lol

there is also the poor mans alt upgrades. ive been a big fan of the millenia alt, and have fabbed those onto FS's, BP's, and F2t's. and are 110amp stock. and are made by nippon denso, instead of the common mitsubishi alts mazda usually used that are total pieces of s***.

 

[zizaspeed]

I have added a ground to my current oreily starter battery that came with the car. What is the BIG3 wire upgrade you mentioned? Is it just running larger gauge cables and setting up a better ground?

 

[hornsfan10609]

Basically yes just upgrading the grounds and using larger gauge wiring. You can also connect all the grounds like some people do, I can't remember the name off the top of my head. And I wouldn't mess with removing the intake manifold, it's a pain in the ass and removing the old gasket really sucks.

 

[dacquesta1]

i dont find removing the manifold to be that bad...but you definetly do not need to remove it to change the alternator. just move the blower motor out of the way and you can slide it up out through the top.