Alternator going down
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
Yeah the ficm's are flawed from factory with poor solder jobs and low grade components.... Ed at ficmrepair.com replaces crap components and improves the solder jobs inside the ficm. He would be better at telling you "exactly" what he does in there.
Low voltage KILLS ficms which in turn can kill your injectors. Of course the whole rollercoaster starts with your alternator.... a good alternator will keep your batteries fully charged which makes sure the ficm gets the juice it needs to operate smoothly which helps increase the life of your injectors.
Fuel pressure also increases the life of your injectors.... low fuel pressure = premature injector failure and an expensive bill.
Low voltage KILLS ficms which in turn can kill your injectors. Of course the whole rollercoaster starts with your alternator.... a good alternator will keep your batteries fully charged which makes sure the ficm gets the juice it needs to operate smoothly which helps increase the life of your injectors.
Fuel pressure also increases the life of your injectors.... low fuel pressure = premature injector failure and an expensive bill.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
No, I monitor it with my Edge Insight and as long as the voltage stays above 46 volts it's all good. Mine sits anywhere between 48 to 49 volts at all times. Once it starts dropping to 46 or less then I think it's time to take it out and get it tuned up. Last time it cratered on me Ford had to tow it to their shop and replace it (under warranty). When they die they leave you on the side of the road!
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Thanks for all the great info guys!..
Mine just failed also so I ordered a DC Power alternator. Combined with two yellow top batteries I should be good. (knock on wood) Truck is layed up meanwhile but i figured its worth the wait.
Mine just failed also so I ordered a DC Power alternator. Combined with two yellow top batteries I should be good. (knock on wood) Truck is layed up meanwhile but i figured its worth the wait.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
You will be very happy with the alternator and batteries and I agree it should be worth the wait!
New User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Okay cool, and can I get both of these cable lengths from DC? Or will I have to get it from that stereo company or whatever?
Also, I changed both batteries yesterday, the alternator is like 4 days old, and the battery light still comes on when the motor is cold, for about 10-15 minutes then turns off. Are there any wires that I should check to see what might be causing it to come on?
Also, I changed both batteries yesterday, the alternator is like 4 days old, and the battery light still comes on when the motor is cold, for about 10-15 minutes then turns off. Are there any wires that I should check to see what might be causing it to come on?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
No, I monitor it with my Edge Insight and as long as the voltage stays above 46 volts it's all good. Mine sits anywhere between 48 to 49 volts at all times. Once it starts dropping to 46 or less then I think it's time to take it out and get it tuned up. Last time it cratered on me Ford had to tow it to their shop and replace it (under warranty). When they die they leave you on the side of the road!
Also, not sure about my belt, when my mechanic changed the alternator he said the belt looked brand new.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
So, say I had it sent off to Ed, and later on my batteries or alternator die, and my ficm volts drop below 46, would I have to send it back to Ed and pay another 150 bucks to fix that or what?
Also, not sure about my belt, when my mechanic changed the alternator he said the belt looked brand new.
Also, not sure about my belt, when my mechanic changed the alternator he said the belt looked brand new.
If your ficm is good now then just worry about the charging system to help it stay happy for as long as possible. When you notice the ficm going south then upgrade it before it does any damage. That way you aren't spending all your $$$ at once.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
Yeah, I'm trying to get this whole mess figured out, then once it's worked for a while I want to just go ahead and send my FICM. I've heard it improves mileage a little, and I could really use that as I'm not getting very good mileage at all, maybe 12 mpg.
In the event of my alternator or batteries dying, will Ed's keep it's 48+ voltage better than the stock one? Cause batteries and alternators are just things that tend to need to be replaced every once in a while, and if that's what kills the voltage in the FICM, I'm not sure if it's worth it? You know what I'm sayin?
In the event of my alternator or batteries dying, will Ed's keep it's 48+ voltage better than the stock one? Cause batteries and alternators are just things that tend to need to be replaced every once in a while, and if that's what kills the voltage in the FICM, I'm not sure if it's worth it? You know what I'm sayin?
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
Yeah, I'm trying to get this whole mess figured out, then once it's worked for a while I want to just go ahead and send my FICM. I've heard it improves mileage a little, and I could really use that as I'm not getting very good mileage at all, maybe 12 mpg.
In the event of my alternator or batteries dying, will Ed's keep it's 48+ voltage better than the stock one? Cause batteries and alternators are just things that tend to need to be replaced every once in a while, and if that's what kills the voltage in the FICM, I'm not sure if it's worth it? You know what I'm sayin?
In the event of my alternator or batteries dying, will Ed's keep it's 48+ voltage better than the stock one? Cause batteries and alternators are just things that tend to need to be replaced every once in a while, and if that's what kills the voltage in the FICM, I'm not sure if it's worth it? You know what I'm sayin?
You are right, batteries and alternators do need replacing after a certain length of time. However, replacing batteries and possibly alternators every 2 to 3 years is ludicrous. Not to mention that in our applications the damages caused by not having a good charging system are extremely expensive. That's why I started at the top of the chain by replacing the batteries and alternator with good trustworthy parts.... in the long run it will be cheaper than batteries every 2 years, buggared alternators and fried ficms.
I've had my truck since new and it's only got 80,000 miles. I'm on my third set of batteries, my second ficm, went through 1 alternator.....and had the second factory alternator still in my truck when I decided to end this nonsense and buy a good alternator and batteries.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
I think the key is good batteries and alt. My truck will be 7 years old this November 5 and the alt. just went on it, Im on my 2nd set of batteries, and although they tested well they are comming up on 4 years old so I think Im gonna bite the bullett and replace them and start the slate clean. I also keep a battery tender on the truck if it sits for more than a few days at a time.
From all the reviews and speaking with the folks at DC, chances are this alt. will outlast the truck. The key is high quality components make a beeter product...which is why the chain store alt. fail quickly. Also as was stated before good batteries and charging system health is real important on a truck with all these computers.
Sarge
And FYI, I spoke with the guys at DC after my alt. was shipped and they said that every alt. was supposed to include the spacers so there is no need to pay for them.
From all the reviews and speaking with the folks at DC, chances are this alt. will outlast the truck. The key is high quality components make a beeter product...which is why the chain store alt. fail quickly. Also as was stated before good batteries and charging system health is real important on a truck with all these computers.
Sarge
And FYI, I spoke with the guys at DC after my alt. was shipped and they said that every alt. was supposed to include the spacers so there is no need to pay for them.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
Get a different mechanic. There is obviously a problem if the battery light is still coming on and you have already been informed previously of the quality you are getting in your O'reilly alternator.... your money & your truck!