FTO AUSTRALIA

Is it possible to swap the alternator from a non-mivec to a mivec? I do recall something mentioned a while ago about an extra pin but can't remember if it was the alternator. How necessary is this pin if that is the case?

Nope, a Mivec one won't work in a non-mivec one .. the Mivec one has 4 pins, 2 of which are used for a relay back to the ECU (Alternator FR Terminal) telling it whats going on with the Mivec.

Thanks dude. Love your work. Let's talk alternators...what are the symptoms and consequences of overcharging? - as in the voltage recharge rate is significantly higher than normal during operation.

You suspect that yours is overcharging? It would likely fry the battery if it is, could be caused by faulty voltage regulator

I doubt the alternators charge much different. I suspect it wants to know when it hits MIVEC to charge a little harder - no other reason I can see.

good to see what the rating of both are and understand where the voltage regulator sits in each case.

Yeah my first guess would be voltage regulator coz it sucks! The alternator was reconditioned a couple of years ago coz this sort of thing started happening around that time when I first got an amp. Wish I knew more about audio stuff so I could have prevented it. I suppose I still can.

The voltage goes a bit loopy after some 'spirited' driving so generally when the car has been hitting MIVEC more than it really should.

Would this cause the car to stall? For all I know this could be the stepper motor coz it kinda idles roughish but not that bad.