Alternator - Easy or Not
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New User
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 18
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Alternator - Easy or Not
Apparently my alternator is going bad. Mechanic says it's gonna cost about $550 bones. I can save a few buck on labor if its not a difficult thing to do. At first glance it looks like its just 3 bolts holding it in. I'm just not sure about the belt, and how difficult that is to take off and or put back on.
Any suggestions?
Its a 2004 F550 6.0, I believe he said it has a 120amp alt.(don't qupte me on that though)
Any suggestions?
Its a 2004 F550 6.0, I believe he said it has a 120amp alt.(don't qupte me on that though)
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 854
Likes: 17
From: Florida
You have to loosen the serpentine belt - look on the serpentine belt threads to see where the tensioner is. It is easy. Apparently there is a video showing an alternator changeout in under 120 sec. Look in the alternator threads too because you might want to take this opportunity to upgrade the alt to something larger. Check out High Binder's recent posts - he has been working on this recently.
I'm hitting easy street
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,395
Likes: 27
From: Central Oregon
I have not done this yet, but some say you can just unbolt and tip it forward off the belt. Someone mentioned using a bungee to keep the belt tight before tipping the alternator.
Or you can loosen the belt first and then remove. Just make sure the belt is correct before tightening everything down.
Here is a link to the belt tensioner.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...by-step-2.html
or this one:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7507688
Or you can loosen the belt first and then remove. Just make sure the belt is correct before tightening everything down.
Here is a link to the belt tensioner.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...by-step-2.html
or this one:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7507688
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 524
Likes: 0
From: Taylorsville, UT
I have replaced mine without removing the belt. I just unbolted it and tipped it forward. When putting the new one back one I just put the belt over the pully and tipped it back into place and bolted it back on. It took about 15 mins.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,347
Likes: 0
From: Eagle Mountian, Utah
Just install the bolts closest to the pulley a few threads in so the alt rocks a little. Then just kept the belt pulled tight while you slip it over the pulley. That's how I did it and it worked well.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 177
Likes: 1
From: Wasilla, Alaska
Like everyone else said unbolt the alternator tip it forward slip belt off put new alternator in place start front two bolts and tilt alternator back and start threading in all the mounting bolts. One of the easiest things to do on these trucks.
$550 is about $300 cheaper than my wife was quoted when I was out of town, good thing a friend of mine was able to come over and change it out for her. I just don't understand how some people can sleep well at night knowing they just took someone for that kind of cash?
$550 is about $300 cheaper than my wife was quoted when I was out of town, good thing a friend of mine was able to come over and change it out for her. I just don't understand how some people can sleep well at night knowing they just took someone for that kind of cash?
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New User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6
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Google DC Power
New better alt with higher output for half the price.
Just had mine installed last week in about 45 minutes including load test,
Just had mine installed last week in about 45 minutes including load test,
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From: NV
Junior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 66
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From: North Georgia
On my 04 I replaced the alternator with a DC Power 190 amp unit and the installation took less than five minutes. There is a clip on the tensioner that when pushed down you reach in with your hand and engauge it. Then remove the 3 alternator bolts and the wiring plug. Bolt on new unit, place belt on alternator pulley, release clip on tensioner, and connect wiring. If you order from DC Power I would make sure the unit comes with the billet pulley as when I ordered mine the ad said it was sold on the new unit but when it showed up it was the OEM pulley.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,181
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From: Eastern CT.
Man I must have missed something here,,,I just Installed a 170 amp (supposedly) alternator on my 06' 6.0,,,,tried to do like some say,,,Just losen the Bolts and roll old one out,,and new one in under the belt,,,,Bull****,,,,both me and my son could not get the bolts started with the belt tensioner pulling down,,,,even if we did the groves on the belt and pulleys would not be lined up,,,,,
Take a 1/2" Ratchet find the Square drive on the tensioner(under alternator,,,not much fun to get to) get ratchet in square hole, we had to put a short peice of pipe on the ratchet handle, for leverage,,,pull up on it,,,,loosen's the belt,(we did not use the clip or stop)my son held it,,I installed New alt,,,let off on tensioner,,,,all groves were lined up,,all was good,,,,,,Was No possible way to get the bolts started with out pulling up on the tensioner,,,,Now if we held the tensioner and belt in its engine running posistion,,,maybe the bolts would have started,,,,But with the tensioner all released,,,was not going to Happen !
Take a 1/2" Ratchet find the Square drive on the tensioner(under alternator,,,not much fun to get to) get ratchet in square hole, we had to put a short peice of pipe on the ratchet handle, for leverage,,,pull up on it,,,,loosen's the belt,(we did not use the clip or stop)my son held it,,I installed New alt,,,let off on tensioner,,,,all groves were lined up,,all was good,,,,,,Was No possible way to get the bolts started with out pulling up on the tensioner,,,,Now if we held the tensioner and belt in its engine running posistion,,,maybe the bolts would have started,,,,But with the tensioner all released,,,was not going to Happen !