Alternator Upgrade Options for the GX470 (1 Viewer)

[txgringo]

After my battery light started coming on intermittently for a couple days I have confirmed that the alternator is toast. I'd prefer to upgrade to a stronger unit while I have it out instead of going back in with OEM/Denso @130A.

Nationstar is a bit spendy for me, but Mechman isn't too crazy. For folks running Mechman alternators in their GX470, how did you address the need for the shorter drive belt necessitated by the 1.75" pulley?

Any other options for a 200+ amp alternator that I should consider? I'm leaving for a trip in 2 weeks and was hoping to drive the GX, so the lead time for Mechman (in addition to the shorter drive belt) is a little concerning.

 

[z00t3ch]

Products | US Alternators

www.usalternators.com

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

Any reason you cant swap pullys between OEM andbthe 1.75" version?

 

[txgringo]

Any reason you cant swap pullys between OEM andbthe 1.75" version?

I had thought about this as well. will have to ask the manufacturer about that. The smaller pulley size would spin the generator faster, which may be how they are getting 240A out of it.

 

[z00t3ch]

I had thought about this as well. will have to ask the manufacturer about that. The smaller pulley size would spin the generator faster, which may be how they are getting 240A out of it.

Spinning a bit faster won't cause an 80amp alternator to crank out 240amps, they have to be rewound internally and have several components upgraded.

 

[txgringo]

Spinning a bit faster won't cause an 80amp alternator to crank out 240amps, they have to be rewound internally and have several components upgraded.

That's not what I was saying. OEM is 130A. I can see spinning a 130A faster might get some more Amps out of it, but likely not double.

 

[GXO]

I have a nationsstarterandalternator 290A alt and it’s been amazing for years on my 03. Have a voltage booster in and running 14.1-14.7V with odyssey dual batteries

 

[Dharma Dude]

I have a nationsstarterandalternator 290A alt and it’s been amazing for years on my 03. Have a voltage booster in and running 14.1-14.7V with odyssey dual batteries

I have always wonder. Do the higher output generator represent a significant larger load on the engine? Any MPGs effects?

 

[GXO]

No change, just more room for activities

 

[txgringo]

Anyone tried Phoenix Alternator? I've read SEVERAL reviews of failures of Mechman, and the Nationstar (while it appears to be THE BEST) is a little out of my price range right now.

 

[txgringo]

I kept going back and forth about ordering Denso or something with higher output. The Denso was going to be close to $200 and wasn't going to ship for nearly a week, so I decided to order the 240 Amp unit from phoenix-alternator.com (same company as tucsonalternator.com). These are newly manufactured in Tucson and carry a 2 year warranty.

My total cost $428.99 including the $60 upgraded cable kit, which is required if you want their warranty. They're telling me it's a 1-2 day build time. I'll share the results once I get it installed and run it a little.

 

[subspd]

Another option is the 150a unit from the first gen Sequoia. Bolts right up and gets you a little extra help.

 

[Salsita]

I kept going back and forth about ordering Denso or something with higher output. The Denso was going to be close to $200 and wasn't going to ship for nearly a week, so I decided to order the 240 Amp unit from phoenix-alternator.com (same company as tucsonalternator.com). These are newly manufactured in Tucson and carry a 2 year warranty.

My total cost $428.99 including the $60 upgraded cable kit, which is required if you want their warranty. They're telling me it's a 1-2 day build time. I'll share the results once I get it installed and run it a little.

I am going this route with the same alternator.
How has yours performed?

Any tips about installing their cable kit?
How about the pulley size?|

Thanks in advance for any hindsight you can share.

 

[txgringo]

I am going this route with the same alternator.
How has yours performed?

Any tips about installing their cable kit?
How about the pulley size?|

Thanks in advance for any hindsight you can share.

Pully size was exactly the same. Definitely buy their cable kit. I haven't has any issues, but I haven't installed anything with a major draw on my GX either.

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

I ended up going with a Pheonix-alternator 240a unit.

I have a voltometer inplace of my cigarette lighter in my cabin to measure voltage. I installed it when I put in my fridge. With my factory alternator I was constantly getting around 13.7 - 14.0v when driving and around 13.0 - 13.5 when idling.

I opted to upgrade my alternator as preventive maintenance and installed the 240a unit with additional cables. Install is smooth if you pull the power steering pulley rather than the entire pump.

After installing the unit, I saw I wasn't getting above 13.0v. I called Chris, a tech with Pheonix-alternator and started to describe my symptoms. Before I could even finish, he asked if I was running the V8 in a Lexus. He told me that they've come to the conclusion that the charge capacitor in the standard 240a alternator isn't sufficient for our engines running accessories. He sent me a shipping label and said he would rebuild my alternator with their new version, designed for the 4.7 V8 and ship it back. I had to pull the new alternator, package it, reinstall the factory unit, ship the replacement, wait a week, then do the job yet again.

I received a new alternator with a pig tail where the factory plug had been. Upon installation I found that this pigtail interfered with the engine mounted gusseted bracked for the power steering pump. Not a big deal - I cut away the interference and installed the alternator (I wasn't about to pull it another time).

I emailed Chris and let them know the snags I hit and suggested the plug be placed on the back of the unit. I'm not sure they took my advice or not.

The alternator appears to be of excellent quality and I'm getting 14.5-14.7v consistently now.

I'm leaving eave my ARB elements fridge running full time as a test and it has yet to hit the low voltage shutoff.

Of note, I'm running an Odessy group 34m battery.

I would call and speak with a tech and ask about the plug orientation, but I'd recommend the Pheonix-alternator unit.

 

[txgringo]

I ended up going with a Pheonix-alternator 240a unit.

I have a voltometer inplace of my cigarette lighter in my cabin to measure voltage. I installed it when I put in my fridge. With my factory alternator I was constantly getting around 13.7 - 14.0v when driving and around 13.0 - 13.5 when idling.

I opted to upgrade my alternator as preventive maintenance and installed the 240a unit with additional cables. Install is smooth if you pull the power steering pulley rather than the entire pump.

After installing the unit, I saw I wasn't getting above 13.0v. I called Chris, a tech with Pheonix-alternator and started to describe my symptoms. Before I could even finish, he asked if I was running the V8 in a Lexus. He told me that they've come to the conclusion that the charge capacitor in the standard 240a alternator isn't sufficient for our engines running accessories. He sent me a shipping label and said he would rebuild my alternator with their new version, designed for the 4.7 V8 and ship it back. I had to pull the new alternator, package it, reinstall the factory unit, ship the replacement, wait a week, then do the job yet again.

I received a new alternator with a pig tail where the factory plug had been. Upon installation I found that this pigtail interfered with the engine mounted gusseted bracked for the power steering pump. Not a big deal - I cut away the interference and installed the alternator (I wasn't about to pull it another time).

I emailed Chris and let them know the snags I hit and suggested the plug be placed on the back of the unit. I'm not sure they took my advice or not.

The alternator appears to be of excellent quality and I'm getting 14.5-14.7v consistently now.

I'm leaving eave my ARB elements fridge running full time as a test and it has yet to hit the low voltage shutoff.

Of note, I'm running an Odessy group 34m battery.

I would call and speak with a tech and ask about the plug orientation, but I'd recommend the Pheonix-alternator unit.

Good info for sure. When did you purchase the alternator from them?

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

About 4 months ago.

 

[Salsita]

Pully size was exactly the same. Definitely buy their cable kit. I haven't has any issues, but I haven't installed anything with a major draw on my GX either.

Thank you for the quick reply.
It is fairly straightforward to install (removing last mounting bolt next)
Biggest draw will be winch, which I install next.

 

[Salsita]

I ended up going with a Pheonix-alternator 240a unit.

I have a voltometer inplace of my cigarette lighter in my cabin to measure voltage. I installed it when I put in my fridge. With my factory alternator I was constantly getting around 13.7 - 14.0v when driving and around 13.0 - 13.5 when idling.

I opted to upgrade my alternator as preventive maintenance and installed the 240a unit with additional cables. Install is smooth if you pull the power steering pulley rather than the entire pump.

After installing the unit, I saw I wasn't getting above 13.0v. I called Chris, a tech with Pheonix-alternator and started to describe my symptoms. Before I could even finish, he asked if I was running the V8 in a Lexus. He told me that they've come to the conclusion that the charge capacitor in the standard 240a alternator isn't sufficient for our engines running accessories. He sent me a shipping label and said he would rebuild my alternator with their new version, designed for the 4.7 V8 and ship it back. I had to pull the new alternator, package it, reinstall the factory unit, ship the replacement, wait a week, then do the job yet again.

I received a new alternator with a pig tail where the factory plug had been. Upon installation I found that this pigtail interfered with the engine mounted gusseted bracked for the power steering pump. Not a big deal - I cut away the interference and installed the alternator (I wasn't about to pull it another time).

I emailed Chris and let them know the snags I hit and suggested the plug be placed on the back of the unit. I'm not sure they took my advice or not.

The alternator appears to be of excellent quality and I'm getting 14.5-14.7v consistently now.

I'm leaving eave my ARB elements fridge running full time as a test and it has yet to hit the low voltage shutoff.

Of note, I'm running an Odessy group 34m battery.

I would call and speak with a tech and ask about the plug orientation, but I'd recommend the Pheonix-alternator unit.

Thanks for those details, very helpful.
They aren't available today.
I've got it out, so I'm going to stall and talk to them before putting new one in.
I found loosening the mounting bolts on the power steering pump so it can move forward enough for clearance of alternator case easier to do than blocking that power steering pump pulley and looseing its bolt so it can move out on spline.
Crossing my fingers that the capacitor is the updated version 'cause pigtail isn't on this.
How did you compensate for the slightly smaller pulley on the Pheonix alternator?
Did you swap pulleys, get a shorter belt or adjust tensioner (or nada)?

 

[ArBrnSnpr]

My pulley was the same diameter as the OEM unit.

Pulling the pulley off is real easy. Break the bolt lose while the belt is still mounted. It holds the pulley in place.