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Jonathan
07-30-2016, 10:47 AM
The weather here's gotten a little humid and gross, so instead of driving the car recently, I thought I'd take it apart instead. ;)

I mostly just wanted to replace my alternator belt and install the new SS alternator tensioner bracket I got from Matt (DriveStainless). That part is simple enough, yet when I got looking closer at the alternator, I could see some of the electrical connections didn't look great (corrosion on fittings or the tape wrapping was coming off on the wire jumbles). So I took it out of the car to make life easier for clean-up.

I had honestly thought I had the Ducellier the whole time on my car, but now I'm not so sure. It doesn't have a single marking or stamping on it that I could find to help me identify what make, model, or amperage it is. I read through the ST-11-26 service bulletin and the two wire connector change to the single wire set-up seems to be what I already have done. You can see the connector in the photos, which I disconnected at the loose/wirenut end as well as the quick connect end right on the alternator. I got the car in 2007 and this alternator has been in there the whole time. My VIN is 3937, so it would have left Dunmurry with the Ducellier as far as I know.

Anyone tell me which alternator this is?

44946449474494844949

dn010
07-30-2016, 12:19 PM
It is a "SpecitalT"/Hervey alternator.

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Chris 16409
07-30-2016, 06:14 PM
Hervey usually stamps his with a D-120 or D-140 marking. If there are no markings, it could be an early DMC-H unit.

Jonathan
07-30-2016, 06:54 PM
Thanks for the leads. I don't see any markings on it, but I'll look again. And go through Hervey's website too.

With mention of it possibly being an older Houston model, are there any alternators that we can conclusively say mine is NOT? Like, it isn't the Ducellier and it isn't this new Motorola 120 Amp one you can currently buy from Houston? What did the old 90 Amp Motorola one look like, or is that the one you meant?

The fins on the one I have resemble the Motorola more than the Ducellier style. I'll take some better pictures of mine and see if I can spot any markings on it somewhere.

refugeefromcalif
07-30-2016, 07:12 PM
The wire splice on the connector that's shown in one of your pictures reminds me of what I had to do to mount my first replacement Motorola, (DMCH 140), on my car.
After a year +, That one Melted internally so, I replaced it with the current Motorola 120 that DMCH now stocks.
I don't keep up with what Hervey's stock so I can't comment on that.

George

Jonathan
07-30-2016, 07:27 PM
I'll grab a photo once I get it cleaned enough for the markings to show up... but looking closer, under a layer of filth, I realized there is a lightly engraved "D140" on it. So, the guess of it being a Hervey alternator appears correct (thanks!).

Not sure if they have changed much over the years, but here is a current webstore photo from John:

44960

dn010
07-30-2016, 07:32 PM
I have no way of determining a 120 amp from a 140 amp. I have had both and had no difference in gauge response.

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Chris 16409
07-30-2016, 08:08 PM
To be honest, I don't think any of the current alternators the vendors sell are actually made by Motorola. They just place it in the Motorola parts page for convenience. The original Motorola alternator did not use the GM style plug as far as I know.

dn010
07-30-2016, 08:09 PM
They fit with a bracket and they work, that's about all you can say about them.

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DMC5180
07-30-2016, 09:47 PM
The Hervey units have an undersized pulley so that the alternator spins faster at idle. They have also been known to throw belts on occasion due to undersized pulley. I'm using a DMCMW CS130 (identical exterior appearance to hervey units) but the internal component mix is different. these are built to start charging at a lower RPM threshold and the pulley is more normal sized.

DMCMW Dave
07-30-2016, 10:19 PM
It's definitely one of the aftermarket CS130 alternators (Sometimes called Saturn alternators although the design was used on many GM cars for a long time). Without any markings you can't tell who originally sold it or what the current rating may be.

If it's Hervey's there is probably a resistor stuck inside the plug buried in RTV to raise the regulator voltage a bit, but if it's Houston or Generic you can't tell.

Jonathan
08-02-2016, 07:37 AM
Here's a couple more pics in better focus. You can see the "D140" engraved on it, but that's the only markings I could find.

450764507745078450794508045081

Morpheus
08-02-2016, 08:21 AM
The "D140" would indicate that this is a Hervey alternator.