The alternator in my '80 Volare is finally sounding its death knell. It had been making intermittent noise for the last couple of months but now its constant.

I wasn't sure if it was the original alternator in the car and a look at the tag confirmed it: 9/80. The car was built in April 1980. Why it would have been replaced so early in the car's life is beyond me but 21 years of service for the replacement is pretty darn good.



mopar@canoemail.com

How many miles in those 21 years??
Usually the brushes are the first thing to wear out then there is no output. I've had brushes wear out in as little as 50k miles. All my Mopar vehicles have the original factory installed alternators. I just replace bearings and brushes when I buy the vehicles and then replace the brushes again as they approach worn out.

cfield@ll.net

About 82,000.


mopar@canoemail.com

Ah, you assume the alternator was replaced early in the cars life. All you really know is that alt. was built in Sept. of 80. You don't know how long it sat on the shelf and when it was put on the car. Perhaps someone replaced the original with one from a bone yard, or the local Chrys. dealer didn't go thru many of these and they just sat for years???

ejones@seanet.com

Whatever. Actually, the car has been in the family since new so I could find out when it was replaced. So there.

mopar@canoemail.com