So, I noticed that the battery has been going dead a lot faster than I thought it should.

It was charged about a week ago. Today when I went to take a spin around the block, it was dead. I put my jumper box on it and got just a bunch of clicking and some lovely white smoke from the alternator. Then I attached another car to jump it and as soon as I connected the batteries, the alternator let out a big puff beautiful smoke. I smell electrical burn. The alternator looks original to me.

Would a bad alternator drain the battery?

So I started to yank out the alternator. That damn pivot bolt was a joy to remove.

But now I cant figure out how to get the alternator out of the engine bay. Every which way I turn it gets hung on something. What is the proper path to remove it from the bay?

This is an 91 CRx Si SCCA ITA race car, not a street car.

 

Would a bad alternator drain the battery? Yes obviously... your alternator charges your battery back up...

just go buy a new one, maybe 150 bucks at most...

 

Right, got that part. I guess what I was asking is if the alternator is bad, would it drain the battery if the car just sits without running.

I will pick up the new alternator today. But I can’t figure out how to get the alternator out of the engine bay without having to take out the brake fluid reservoir. Is there a spot it will fit without having to take anything else apart?

 

To the OP,
There are two ways that I have found easiest. One is to take out the driver's side axle from the hub or the tranny and push it aside enough to get the alternator out between the motor and firewall. The other , less preferrable method (I do it this way if there is no access to a jack at the time) is to remove everything behind the intake manifold on the firewall and it will just squeeze between the manifold and the firewall right under the throttle body area, or just take the intake manifold off. That way is a little more work obviously. Good luck! PS I have, on occasion, been able to force the alternator out between the axle if I turned it just the right way, without having to take the axle loose.

 

Thanks. I was eye balling the axle last night. I will get it out of the way.

 

I just jack up the car go under it and remove the oil filter, and pull the alternator out between the block and rear cross member.
If i can fit a ls lternator threw mine with a b16 you can take out the stock one.

 

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I usually take the transmission route and never have to take anything else apart. Just reach your hand past the starter and grab onto it and pull it out.

It sounds like your alternator is shot, and your running off of the battery that you charged. That can damage the battery as well. When you replace your alternator test your battery and charge it to see if it will hold the charge. Don't let the alternator charge it as it puts a lot of stress on it. If it does not hold the charge or test bad replace it. Failure to replace the bad battery could cost you another alternator.

GL with it. Let us know your outcome.

 

Be careful if the alternator burns out and seizes, it can catch fire in a bad way

 

I did take the shock fork off and the upper arm. It allow me to drop the axle a bit to get the alternator out. New one is in. The battery is charged. I am letting it sit for a couple days to see it if will hold a charge.

 

Yup had an alt catch fire on me. Almost lost the whole car.