Hi folks. I put a post about this on the S10 website and only got a couple of replys but no real answers. I have a 96 Jimmy. The alternator was replaced by the last owner around a year ago. I was doing a tune up and noticed the alternator was VERY hot to the touch. I mean like a hot iron. It looks like its putting out around 14 volts according to the guage. No noise. Just very hot. The previous owner kept it in a "cover it" tent with no vents and hardly drove it. When I bought it last month I could see some problems from the moisture like the interior had some mildew and some of the aluminum under the hood was white. I had to replace the wiper motor and when I took the plastic cover off the circuit board was pretty corroded. Im thinking the regulator in the alternator is the same way and its frying itself. Could this be happening or do these alternators just run really hot ?? Any answers out there ??? Thanks

 

Alternaters can run really hot but you should check for clean, tight connections and check the amperage output. Amperage can cause a lot of heat.
You can also take the belt off and see if there is any drag on the pulley or if it spins with very little resistance to check the bearings.