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Alternator OEM Mazda or GENERAL MOTORS
Reviews
Here is a stock Mk2 65 amp alternator (top) and the generic one-wire GM alternator (bottom). They're physically the same size, and the posts are almost identical in length. The GM fan is indented in the center though, and the VW one is flat. I used the GM fan, cause my stocker is disgusting, lol. I swapped the VW hardware/pulley over, since the GM pulley was obviously no good (flat, not offset).
Pros: same size, easy swap
Cons: GM pulley no good
Vehicle:
Volvo
My mom had a 93 Lumina Euro sedan with the 3.8. The only real serious issue it had was a failed alternator which drained the battery and almost left me stranded one night because the headlights dimmed to the point of being unusable. Other than that, yes the alignment was poor and it had some bad brake wear and warping of the rotors.
Cons: poor alignment, bad brake wear
Vehicle:
Chevrolet Lumina
I'm surprised Mazda is rated so poorly, I had a Mazda MPV for 8 years and honestly the only problem I had was the driver's side window gear was worn out, and the alternator.
Cons: window gear worn, alternator failed
Vehicle:
Mazda MPV
Mileage: 200000 km
Triumph TR7. You're a bunch of amateurs. I'm a British car guy in general but the Wedge was exactly as bad as advertised. When it couldn't keep a battery charged I converted it to a GM alternator, then the radiator fell out. A previous owner had pop-riveted a license plate over a hole in the floor. Keeping the carbs synched is a black art. The seat frame snapped as I went down the road - I later found out that it had been hose-clamped together by a previous owner. It didn't catch fire as many times as my Spitfire has, but at least the Spit is fun to drive. The headlights didn't just pop up out of sync, they popped up and *turned on* on their own.
I've also owned a Hyundai Pony and it was a Toyota Cressida next to the Wedge.
Cons: radiator fell out, carbs unsynched
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