Altenator question
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
You can get one of the "lifetime" warranty alternators from the local parts store. Just be sure you also buy batteries from the same store. My "lifetime" alternator from autozoo lasts about 12 - 18 months before it stops charging correctly. It usually takes out at least one battery with it when it goes (also from autozoo & under warranty).
I'd visit my local rebuilder and let them fix it right.
I'd visit my local rebuilder and let them fix it right.
Of the next Riffraff East
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 2
From: Concord NC
You can get one of the "lifetime" warranty alternators from the local parts store. Just be sure you also buy batteries from the same store. My "lifetime" alternator from autozoo lasts about 12 - 18 months before it stops charging correctly. It usually takes out at least one battery with it when it goes (also from autozoo & under warranty).
I'd visit my local rebuilder and let them fix it right.
I'd visit my local rebuilder and let them fix it right.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
I'm having a local rebuilder go through a buddy's right now. It's going to take a new rotor, bearings, and heavy-duty regulator. If it needs diodes also (I believe it will not), it's going to be about $160. Without diodes, about $135.
If you're out in the boonies, and the batteries are dead because of a "lifetime" alternator, the money saved by going that way isn't going to look like a very wise investment after all. It might be a long walk to have them make good on your warranty. One way or the other, it's going to ruin at least one good day. What's that worth?
You might get lucky with a cheaper one, but that doesn't seem to be the typical story told by those here.
Pop
If you're out in the boonies, and the batteries are dead because of a "lifetime" alternator, the money saved by going that way isn't going to look like a very wise investment after all. It might be a long walk to have them make good on your warranty. One way or the other, it's going to ruin at least one good day. What's that worth?
You might get lucky with a cheaper one, but that doesn't seem to be the typical story told by those here.
Pop
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 0
From: ellensburg
So finally got some free time to get into this whole deal...got the batteries load tested, both checked out good. Voltage was low when i took them in though. Going to pull the alternator anyways and take it to be bench tested just to make sure. Really hoping that its the alternator because if not i have no idea where to start looking. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. I'll post back after I get teh alternator bench tested with the results. Is there anything else that i should be asking or checking?
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Do you have a reasonable-quality (accurate) DVM?
With the engine running (after at least two minutes, the voltage on the batteries should be close to 14.4 volts. If not, suspect a bad alternator.
Also, don't forget that there's a fuse for the field current. On your truck it's Fuse #6, a ten-amp in the under-hood fuse block.
No field current means no output.
Pop
With the engine running (after at least two minutes, the voltage on the batteries should be close to 14.4 volts. If not, suspect a bad alternator.
Also, don't forget that there's a fuse for the field current. On your truck it's Fuse #6, a ten-amp in the under-hood fuse block.
No field current means no output.
Pop
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Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 272
Likes: 0
From: Joliet Il
I went with the Autozone Alt. 3 yrs now. nock on wood.
Bought 2 duralast gold batts at the same time.
Yes one of the batts was taken out.
A test of Alt. without a meter, when engine is running touch back side of Alt. in the center of Alt. magnetic field created from Alt. pulls screw driver into back of Alt. Like a magnet pull.
If it pulls screw driver into Alt. then magnetic field is present and Alt. should be charging.
Bought 2 duralast gold batts at the same time.
Yes one of the batts was taken out.
A test of Alt. without a meter, when engine is running touch back side of Alt. in the center of Alt. magnetic field created from Alt. pulls screw driver into back of Alt. Like a magnet pull.
If it pulls screw driver into Alt. then magnetic field is present and Alt. should be charging.
Thread Starter
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 0
From: ellensburg
sure enough the alternator was bad. the no start condition must have been because the batteries got too low to start the vehicle. Replaced the alternator, and truck fired right up first time!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 17,988
Likes: 207
From: La La Land
Lifetime warranties are offered on stuff that is rebuilt with the cheapest parts and labor quality available. If they didn't offer that warranty, they couldn't sell that crap for very long. They figure you'll put up with the lesser-quality if they just replace it "forever". Hey! You should have no "beef" with that, right?
It's just a business model cooked up by MBAs to maximize profits without regard to inconveniencing the end user. What's your time worth? How many times do you want to do the job? What happens when you lose the paperwork (they are kinda' counting on that). What happens when it fails in the middle of nowhere?
I'll take higher-priced quality, without the hassles that usually come with the "lifetime guarantee". Sometimes that hassle means being in Elko, Nevada with a dead battery.
Quality guarantees nothing, but it sure increases the odds.
Roll the dice?
Pop
It's just a business model cooked up by MBAs to maximize profits without regard to inconveniencing the end user. What's your time worth? How many times do you want to do the job? What happens when you lose the paperwork (they are kinda' counting on that). What happens when it fails in the middle of nowhere?
I'll take higher-priced quality, without the hassles that usually come with the "lifetime guarantee". Sometimes that hassle means being in Elko, Nevada with a dead battery.
Quality guarantees nothing, but it sure increases the odds.
Roll the dice?
Pop
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
I'm running two "upgrade" units.
The first one is on my F250 - a 160 amp 6G large case HD unit with a remote bridge rectifier from Quick Start. Been running since June time frame from last year and not had a single hiccup yet. I had to grind a slight bit in the valley of the alternator bracket to get this oen to sit square - tried the washer shims at first until I ended up stripping one bolt and had to replace the bracket altogether.
The second one is a 185 amp 6G large case that was custom designed by Nations, and it's on my Excursion, but has only been hooked up for about two weeks now. No short term issues or any reasons yet to think that some are coming. Due to the Nations design, this one was a direct bolt-in and required no grinding at all on the alternator bracket. I noticed, too, that the wire lugs/connectors are heavier duty than those on either the stocker or the QuickStart unit on my F250.
Both of these units are brand new and not rebuilt. Time will certainly be the teller for how they run in the long term.
The first one is on my F250 - a 160 amp 6G large case HD unit with a remote bridge rectifier from Quick Start. Been running since June time frame from last year and not had a single hiccup yet. I had to grind a slight bit in the valley of the alternator bracket to get this oen to sit square - tried the washer shims at first until I ended up stripping one bolt and had to replace the bracket altogether.
The second one is a 185 amp 6G large case that was custom designed by Nations, and it's on my Excursion, but has only been hooked up for about two weeks now. No short term issues or any reasons yet to think that some are coming. Due to the Nations design, this one was a direct bolt-in and required no grinding at all on the alternator bracket. I noticed, too, that the wire lugs/connectors are heavier duty than those on either the stocker or the QuickStart unit on my F250.
Both of these units are brand new and not rebuilt. Time will certainly be the teller for how they run in the long term.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 145
Likes: 2
From: Australia
"Flee bay"
Glad to see you guys all had a good time,, even though I wasn't there,,,LOL.
Just be careful of those "flee bay" alternators. I bought a chrome, 100 amp jobby when I started collecting the bits for my truck. Now, some 10 or 12 months later, I find out it's only good for 60 amps. Can't even keep up with my ignition, radio, and twin thermo fans, and that's without the headlights and driving lights.
Bit the bullet and bought a Bosch 120 amp job from my auto lecky.
Catch ya.