If you are near a major city you will be able to buy the bearings if you need them these often just need grease,,The Gm alternator is the best bet but I do not think you can get a new one for $125.00 great price tho if $125.. I did not look butI think the chilton and the haynes manual have section on alt rebuild this makes it easy .. you need a heavy duty paper clip or small nail to hold brushes
If stock portfolio and cayman island number account are cash poor,and girl friend refused to work at dance club to support your fiero habit hitch hike down to part store and find/cross reference car that used same alternator as fiero,NO then ride donkey to used parts paradize yard..the nirvana of fiero enthusiast and haggle for cheap alternator,, OR check with fiero club members in your area if these clowns will not come accross with cheap alternator it is nija time ,,stealth operation 2:00 am to members house for speedy removal of thier alternator..
try parts store with old timer parts guy he probably has no life,other than heavy drinking ,, yet knows what G M alt will fit what other car,making him a valued member of our free spirited society
Many alternators have different part numbers yet the only diff is they have different amp rate !!
If bearing is sealed and you think it is bad ,,cut or drill(cut better) a hole and load with grease then patch hole,,if bearing is open you must use grease sparingly to prevent spraying innards, use hi temp grease, if not much money use what you have
If the alt smells like thier was animal house fire inside, you could have a bad armature , stator ,ect especially if you ran it a long time with bad alt.(arcing)
you should be able to find a rebuilt kit at a parts house close to you unless you live in bucolic rustic remoat setting !!call around,, prepay and it shoud be there in a day
unfortunately many of the rebuilders have closed up shop because they can not compete with parts stores ,if one in your area this is EXCELLENT idea.. there are still a few auto electric shops,, they will do it for low price if repairable
some auto parts stores still have an armature tester,, if so check this out !!
cars are more reliable than in the past and many small shops turn to more profitable enterprise such as drug dealing ,or join circus clowns
[This message has been edited by uhlanstan (edited 08-16-2008).]
