Jeep overheated alternator was smoking hot smelled electrical.every thing turns on except engine.

Asked by Alex Jun 09, 2013 at 02:20 PM about the 2008 Jeep Commander

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

3 Answers

Your battery is kaput, and your faithful alternator was doin' all it could to charge up a non-charge uppable battery....check the date on the knock off stickers indicating the date of the first charge....five years is pretty much it. because batteries will degrade, not accepting a charge ten percent per year...so if you're runnin' with a ten year old battery will not be charging up...at all and force the alternator to run till smokin'..just as yours has done~

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You need a need a battery recommend Interstate, Prestolite or NAPA because of their warranty and "pro-rate" givin' you some credit for the oldie---clean the connection from the black 1/0 battery cable to the chassis ground with a coarse wirebrush and check the connection to the starter solenoid with a smaller brass brush....turn the key...keep your fingers crossed that Altie wasn't cooked and be prepared to remove it as a core for your replacement unit...should be under a hundred bucks for a remanufactured one~

2 people found this helpful.
100

hi, (jeep liberty 2007) I have the same problem, my alternator over heat itself beacause the computer undestand that there is a lack in charging system, then the computer keep the alternator producing current, until it blows up the stabiliser diode, even if you reinstall a new alternator you will blow it again, if this could help i checked the voltage drop between the battery and the alternator, and figured out my ground contact was rusty and weak, cleaned it up with steel brush, then the battery light went out, the output alternator amps drops to 30 amps rather than 100 at 1500 rpm. this issue solved my problem, by replacing my rectifier diode and brushes, I even replaced the rotor and stator because it heated so much until the resin melted down and jammed the two unit together.

10 people found this helpful.

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