beams alternator

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 06:36 PM

I'm having problems with my charging system where my battery keeps boiling over. I've gone through several batteries in the last year or two. My mechanic seems to think it's probably a bad alternator. Sounds like the voltage regulator could be causing the overcharge of the battery.

What alternator came with the beams? Will I be fine with a 70 amp? I have power steering.

MANDALAY · 03-30-2009, 06:55 PM

From memory around the world there was 3 alternator sizes on the MR2 . The states got 2 a low one and a higher one given you had 2 models.
In Australia we only had one model and its the same as the Beams one 90 amp.
Check all terminals first. DONT forget the grounds. Check output on the alternator with a multimeter . I would bet its your alternator.

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 07:17 PM

So, I should get a turbo 90 amp one for the beams? Will 70 be enough if I don't have crazy stereo stuff?

My mechanic said it was outputting something like 14v which he said was slightly high but ok. The mechanic didn't seem to think a bad ground could be the cause since it never had trouble starting up.

puretone · 03-30-2009, 10:30 PM

boiling over?
go dry cell....

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 10:34 PM

i'm considering that...would racing and high g's cause the battery to boil over? The only thing is, I think the battery boiled over this winter when the car wasn't being used.

puretone · 03-30-2009, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2nv

i'm considering that...would racing and high g's cause the battery to boil over? The only thing is, I think the battery boiled over this winter when the car wasn't being used.

you are allowed to race with a liquid battery?
I am pretty sure you should REALLY get a god damn dry-cell, no acid spills in crashes and stuff, plus they weigh 15 lbs (!!)
Odyssey 680 works perfect.

MANDALAY · 03-30-2009, 10:48 PM

14 volts is ok even up to 14.3. The higher the faster battery recharge.
Do you have air cond ?
Just making sure also , do you have the signal wires going to the alternator ?

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 10:49 PM

just autox and track days...no wheel to wheel stuff.

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 10:50 PM

yes, i have a/c. not sure what you mean by signal wires.

MANDALAY · 03-30-2009, 10:51 PM

70 amps is small with air. How about the signal cable. Do you have a celica engine ? who did your wiring ?

Plug that pushes into the alternator

puretone · 03-30-2009, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2nv

yes, i have a/c. not sure what you mean by signal wires.

ELS signal I think, Load Sensor.....

Must be bad ground or something, it's not draining the battery but killing it? Battery tender during winter?

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 11:01 PM

I got an mr2 clip with everything. The guy who I bought the clip from did all the wiring. I'm assuming it's plugged into the alternator.

I heard these small dry cell batteries don't work well in cold temperatures. It gets pretty cold here so I'm not sure that will work for me.

puretone · 03-30-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2nv

I got an mr2 clip with everything. The guy who I bought the clip from did all the wiring. I'm assuming it's plugged into the alternator.

I heard these small dry cell batteries don't work well in cold temperatures. It gets pretty cold here so I'm not sure that will work for me.

EVO & Subi boys running these don't have too many issues with them in the cold.
Where you at?
Midwest, AMS got good deals on these things often. Lead-acid is just as much a pain in the extreme cold as dry-cell. Optima's are a little slow in extreme cold too, just that they weigh a tonne.
If you garage the thing in winter then the cold ought not to be an issue to you, why not just disconnect the thing in winter?

edit: Any battery will have operating temp specs, pretty sure there are not many that "work well" in -40

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 11:05 PM

yeah, the car has killed several batteries in the last couple of years. It always ends with washing the frunk down with baking soda to kill the acid. No battery tender but it's started up consistently throughout the winter.

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 11:08 PM

I'm in New York so it's not extreme cold but it can get down there. Don't have the luxury of keeping it in a garage. I could disconnect it, but that wouldn't solve the real issue of the battery boiling over.

OT: Can't wait to escape the cold weather for Aruba in early May.

puretone · 03-30-2009, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2nv

I'm in New York so it's not extreme cold but it can get down there. Don't have the luxury of keeping it in a garage. I could disconnect it, but that wouldn't solve the real issue of the battery boiling over.

Yeah something's being really messed up, up in your ride. If it's not getting charged, I wonder how it's boiling over, usually happens from getting charged or any other battery activity.....wierd wierd wierd.

Upstate? Doesn't get to -40 C/F there too often?

Odyssey is happy between -40 degrees C/F to 90 degrees C

mr2nv · 03-30-2009, 11:24 PM

I think the battery gets overcharged first, boils over, then doesn't charge. Wouldn't a bad voltage regulator in the alternator be a possible culprit?

No, I'm on Long Island so it doesn't get below around 10 F too often. -40 C is a little different than -40 F. I'm assuming its celsius.

puretone · 03-31-2009, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr2nv

I think the battery gets overcharged first, boils over, then doesn't charge. Wouldn't a bad voltage regulator in the alternator be a possible culprit?

No, I'm on Long Island so it doesn't get below around 10 F too often. -40 C is a little different than -40 F. I'm assuming its Celsius.

I been itching to tell an American about this one, the way the conversion works out is that around -40 degrees F or C is pretty much the same thing, before and after the graphs split/intersect somewhere again somewhere IIRC

Servin · 04-01-2009, 11:39 AM

I have the 70 amp alt. and I have power windows,locks, and ac. No PS and no premium radio package, anti-theft or power antenna. And it works great for me.

JDMsw20 · 04-11-2009, 02:18 PM

I have the same issue with the alternator overcharging the battery. I'm going to take mine to a rebuild shop and have it upgraded to 100amps. They'll just put in lexus spec wires.

03-30-2009, 06:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	beams alternator I'm having problems with my charging system where my battery keeps boiling over. I've gone through several batteries in the last year or two. My mechanic seems to think it's probably a bad alternator. Sounds like the voltage regulator could be causing the overcharge of the battery. What alternator came with the beams? Will I be fine with a 70 amp? I have power steering.

03-30-2009, 10:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
MANDALAY Beams Owners Group Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: victoria AUSTRALIA Posts: 1,839 Thanks: 88 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	70 amps is small with air. How about the signal cable. Do you have a celica engine ? who did your wiring ? Plug that pushes into the alternator Last edited by MANDALAY; 03-30-2009 at 10:53 PM. Reason: air con

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03-30-2009, 06:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
MANDALAY Beams Owners Group Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: victoria AUSTRALIA Posts: 1,839 Thanks: 88 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	From memory around the world there was 3 alternator sizes on the MR2 . The states got 2 a low one and a higher one given you had 2 models. In Australia we only had one model and its the same as the Beams one 90 amp. Check all terminals first. DONT forget the grounds. Check output on the alternator with a multimeter . I would bet its your alternator.

03-30-2009, 07:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	So, I should get a turbo 90 amp one for the beams? Will 70 be enough if I don't have crazy stereo stuff? My mechanic said it was outputting something like 14v which he said was slightly high but ok. The mechanic didn't seem to think a bad ground could be the cause since it never had trouble starting up.

03-30-2009, 10:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
puretone Beams Owners Group Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Aruba, #1 BEAMS Engine on the Island Posts: 1,370 Thanks: 24 Thanked 46 Times in 45 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	boiling over? go dry cell....

03-30-2009, 10:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	i'm considering that...would racing and high g's cause the battery to boil over? The only thing is, I think the battery boiled over this winter when the car wasn't being used.

03-30-2009, 10:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
MANDALAY Beams Owners Group Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: victoria AUSTRALIA Posts: 1,839 Thanks: 88 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	14 volts is ok even up to 14.3. The higher the faster battery recharge. Do you have air cond ? Just making sure also , do you have the signal wires going to the alternator ?

03-30-2009, 10:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	just autox and track days...no wheel to wheel stuff.

03-30-2009, 10:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yes, i have a/c. not sure what you mean by signal wires.

03-30-2009, 11:01 PM	#12 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I got an mr2 clip with everything. The guy who I bought the clip from did all the wiring. I'm assuming it's plugged into the alternator. I heard these small dry cell batteries don't work well in cold temperatures. It gets pretty cold here so I'm not sure that will work for me.

03-30-2009, 11:05 PM	#14 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	yeah, the car has killed several batteries in the last couple of years. It always ends with washing the frunk down with baking soda to kill the acid. No battery tender but it's started up consistently throughout the winter.

03-30-2009, 11:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I'm in New York so it's not extreme cold but it can get down there. Don't have the luxury of keeping it in a garage. I could disconnect it, but that wouldn't solve the real issue of the battery boiling over. OT: Can't wait to escape the cold weather for Aruba in early May.

03-30-2009, 11:24 PM	#17 (permalink)
mr2nv Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 136 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I think the battery gets overcharged first, boils over, then doesn't charge. Wouldn't a bad voltage regulator in the alternator be a possible culprit? No, I'm on Long Island so it doesn't get below around 10 F too often. -40 C is a little different than -40 F. I'm assuming its celsius.

04-01-2009, 11:39 AM	#19 (permalink)
Servin Beams Owners Group Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 662 Thanks: 11 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	I have the 70 amp alt. and I have power windows,locks, and ac. No PS and no premium radio package, anti-theft or power antenna. And it works great for me.

04-11-2009, 02:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
JDMsw20 Beams Owners Group Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: G-LTDMR2, NY Posts: 144 Thanks: 6 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have the same issue with the alternator overcharging the battery. I'm going to take mine to a rebuild shop and have it upgraded to 100amps. They'll just put in lexus spec wires.