CORVETTE ALTERNATOR PROBLEMS - POWERMASTER EXPLANATION - SOLVED?

I have changed alternators six different times on my 2008 C6 Corvette. Apparently it is common to have issues with aftermarket alternators on these cars and I think I have finally figured out the problem. I also address the issue of amps being pushed or pulled from the alternator.
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#powermaster #corvette #alternator
Keywords:
alternator issues powermaster power master corvette c6 6.2 6.0 ls3 ls2 common electrical problems current amps explained engineering electrical issues alternator rebuild rebuilt factory alternator pulley unboxing

[@ralphcastellano1073]

Your analogy is totally correct!

[@larzos]

I agrea

[@ohioedde]

I was impressed you showed up how to open the box !!

[@m.scottmunger4685]

Finally. Plain English. Thanks

[@MrJimTim]

Happy to help!

[@dandilts3213]

Amperage is a draw by a load in the ckt. Voltage is the power produced by the alternator. That is why there is a voltage regulator in the ckt to keep the alternator from over charging the battery.

[@davecolquhoun9315]

You need to tell it what it needs to put out, and hook up the 2 pin or 4 pin connection so the PWM side of the ECU can controll output, that way it will put out more when needed at whatever rmp it is at, no dimming of lights when your AC comes on, ,

[@tommo98765]

Not had much luck my my powermaster either. Bearing damaged during manufacturing caused mine to fail pretty quick. Fixed that then a brush wire shorted to case and failed again :-(

[@MrJimTim]

😮 Dude that sucks! You would think they would have a little better quality control and more knowledgable staff considering how big a company thy seem to be.

[@kevinlytleracing]

6 months later, how's it holding up? Was looking to buy one or a mechman

[@MrJimTim]

It's still working 👍🏼Looks like the key factor was raising the idle speed to compensate for the larger pulley. Otherwise the alternator doesn't spin fast enough to produce the required amperage and voltage needed by the cooling fans and they will burn it out.

[@David-jh8mp]

I replaced the OEM alternator on my 07 Z06 last year with the Powermaster and worked really well until yesterday when I decided to drive my car nearing the redline. Now it is giving me the “Service Charging System” message. The battery is only less than a year old so and I know it has nothing to do with the problem message. I think the aftermarket alternators just could not handle high rpm especially on the Z06. I still have the old OEM that went bad, maybe I can have it repaired or I’ll just have the dealer install a brand new OEM alternator.

[@JacksonLewis9947]

Any luck with your problem?

[@sknfjuebc]

Same here happening g to me now

[@richardelliott8352]

a lot of C5 owners have found rebuilding the factory alternator is the best solution.@@sknfjuebc

[@theaussie7160]

Would a fuse between the alternator and battery drop the current or straight wire better for max current

[@MrJimTim]

A fuse could cause some current loss. Straight wire for max current. I think we finally fixed the problem. Car was idling too low for the alternator with the larger pulley.

[@Teramydog]

@@MrJimTim How did you end up with a larger pulley?

[@David-jh8mp]

@@Teramydog the Powermaster alternator comes with a larger pulley so you will also need a longer belt. The Powermaster that I installed just went bad after a year so I contacted the Chevy dealer to get it replaced so it is going back to OEM.

[@Teramydog]

@@David-jh8mp thanks for the answer!👍

[@teknikalvette]

Bigger oxygen free copper wire is still a good idea and cheap insurance. My thoughts are ground wires. I burnt up my alternator and aside from wire upgrade I cleaned and retorqued my grounds and no issues.

[@TheWashingtonSkier]

Doing the big 3 would help a lot. It’s the car itself and the plug on top folds over and you need to remake the connections in the plug itself. It will fix your issue the wires are brittle

[@richardelliott8352]

I don't think the OEM wiring needs to be replaced along with the alternator. the big three was designed for high power radio upgrades, which don't really work well with the very specifically engineered corvette electrical circuits anyway.

[@TheWashingtonSkier]

@@richardelliott8352 the car demands more power than you may think which is why there are battery issues and you get service charging system on the C6 more often than not. The plug on the alternator does not have a factory 90 so after time wires folding in the plug are the issue but your opinion is interesting. Take every ground off and fix the factory paint inter a majority of the connections as well as doubling up the wiring creating a cleaner power for the whole cats electrical system. It’s a known issue not a opinion

[@geopanheatingplumbing-lenn3745]

Thank you

[@CoolCarVideo]

could you use an oversize pulley on the alternator?

[@MrJimTim]

I found out in a later video that it did come with a larger pulley and that's actually why it was having problems. It reduced the revolutions at the alternator at idle too low and it was struggling to produce the amperage needed to push the fan and other electronics. I had my tuner raise my idle speed to compensate and so far so good!

[@pigeonsil240sx]

pretty sure your 11.5v at idle eplains everything as the alt is working overtime to try and keep battery charged

[@jacksonmangum]

If bigger wires don’t help with moving the current better then why would people use 1/0 wire for amps and such?

[@MrJimTim]

They help move the current but only if the current is being drawn by the device, not pushed by the power source. If current was pushed then you wouldn't be able to use small wires for an LED that might be connected to a large amperage battery.

[@jacksonmangum]

@@MrJimTim oh okay I see thanks I went ahead and did what they call the big 3 upgrade with some spare 4 gauge wire I had laying around and it helped with my voltage drop but barely I just ordered a Powermaster 140 amp alternator

[@JacksonLewis9947]

How did it fix with the big 3?

[@JacksonLewis9947]

@@jacksonmangum ?

[@taramcglade6027]

@mrjimtim can you and Anna do a holiday video!?❤️😍

[@MrJimTim]

Sounds like a good idea. Might have to do that 👀

[@IHC1965]

I started watching this video once this dude started talking about himself I stopped it. Just show us your what you did.