Was out of town Saturday in the pickup ('95 F350 7.3) an hour from the house and the charging "light" (battery symbol) came on. We made it home and I pulled the alternator. Took it to the local parts store, it tested bad, replaced it. All was fine for a short test drive. This morning the light is back and the charge is low. Is there something that could be "eating" alternators? Or maybe got a bad replacement?

 

If the alternator you put on was rebuilt, chances are it went bad. A rebuilt gets just the part that is bad (ie brushes ect.). A remanufactured unit gets completely remanufactured. I would take it back to the place you bought it from, and have them test it.

 

I have heard people talk about the plug on top of the alternator getting loose from laying over it. I have had a bad replacement alternator have them test the new before you leave the store to make sure.

 

Could be a bad cable?

 

I think all my cables are clean and tight. I give them the once over every oil change. After having to put two batteries on while out of town I got kinda picky about the cables . I'll double check the output wire and both plugs and if all of them are tight I'll pull it today(once it dries out a bit) and run it back for a check. Film at 11. Thanks all!

 

Mine does the same thing. I have found the plug on top of the Alt. can become loose and cause the light to come on. While the light is on I still have 13.8V at the battery so it's charging. I made a shim out of a piece of plastic to keep the wires in better contact. 15 min fix