Need help
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Canberra Australia
Brian, is it worth getting the local auto-electrician to see if he can squeeze some more life out of it while you're waiting for a replacement to arrive from the US?
Otherwise, on the battery charger every night and avoid night time driving till the new one restores normality.
Otherwise, on the battery charger every night and avoid night time driving till the new one restores normality.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Man Cave
Brian, is it worth getting the local auto-electrician to see if he can squeeze some more life out of it while you're waiting for a replacement to arrive from the US?
Otherwise, on the battery charger every night and avoid night time driving till the new one restores normality.
Otherwise, on the battery charger every night and avoid night time driving till the new one restores normality.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
Likes: 30
From: Melbourne, Aus
On the alternator front,
Is it hot after sitting for a while as well? (usually a shorted diode)
Have you done an output test? (it is usually the regulator that dies, not the alternator)
Is it hot after sitting for a while as well? (usually a shorted diode)
Have you done an output test? (it is usually the regulator that dies, not the alternator)
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Man Cave
took it to a sparkie and he tested it. Not worth getting it fixed here cause for less I can get a 200amp. I run a third battery in the rear for camping so the extra GG's will help.
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Cargo Master
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From: Man Cave
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
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From: Melbourne, Aus
Looks like a replica of the ambo alternator, very good unit, and has an external regulator so if it fails, rebuilding it is much cheaper. When I worked at FoMoCo, the parts price for a genuine unit was $6k... 
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Canberra Australia
That must be $6k with engine attached, maybe?
It'd be cheaper to fly to the US, buy one at AutoCo, and fly back - 1st class!
Not exactly going to attract any 'word of mouth' customers is it!
It'd be cheaper to fly to the US, buy one at AutoCo, and fly back - 1st class!
Not exactly going to attract any 'word of mouth' customers is it!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 323
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From: Victor Harbor South Aust
$$$Alt
G'day Fellas,
I ran into a bloke with a F-Truck in Strathalbyn SA a couple of years ago on his full time on the road haulin' a 5th Wheeler.
He was down in the mouth and in shock recovery from paying $4.5K for an alternator through a Ford Stealership
somewhere in NSW 
.
Poor bugger.
I was at Rapid Bay in SA a couple of weeks ago and another bloke was doin' the same thing full time on the road with a 5th Wheeler and using Ford Stealerships around the country to do his servicing and repairs at a shocking cost.
His missus was getting pissed with the expense and this is where these trucks get a bad rep as too bloody expensive when operated by the poor buggers with no mechanical background or aptitude and only go to Dealerships.
Gotta feel sorry for the poor buggers. But when you try to set them straight you may as well be talking left handed Swahili.
Cheers,
Reg
I ran into a bloke with a F-Truck in Strathalbyn SA a couple of years ago on his full time on the road haulin' a 5th Wheeler.
He was down in the mouth and in shock recovery from paying $4.5K for an alternator through a Ford Stealership
somewhere in NSW .Poor bugger.
I was at Rapid Bay in SA a couple of weeks ago and another bloke was doin' the same thing full time on the road with a 5th Wheeler and using Ford Stealerships around the country to do his servicing and repairs at a shocking cost.
His missus was getting pissed with the expense and this is where these trucks get a bad rep as too bloody expensive when operated by the poor buggers with no mechanical background or aptitude and only go to Dealerships.
Gotta feel sorry for the poor buggers. But when you try to set them straight you may as well be talking left handed Swahili.
Cheers,
Reg
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 18,787
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From: Melbourne, Aus
I wish I was.
Back in 2004 a set of injectors for the 7.3 also cost ~32k IIRC (yes, you could actually buy a full engine with turbo through the parts system cheaper)
I was able to get the cost down on the injectors, but not the alternator.
If you ever have to get parts for your 7.3 from a dealer here (either because its a specific item to Brazilian built units, or because you are in a rush), make sure they contact Ford Australia to clarify/contest the price and rattle the chain, low volume parts can often be priced excessively high by the dealer and by Ford, and despite what you may think/be told, there IS wiggle room, and sometimes quite a lot. (I think the injectors we got down to about 8k for a set, not great - but could you imagine being hit with a 32k bill on parts alone for replacing injectors!)
Back in 2004 a set of injectors for the 7.3 also cost ~32k IIRC (yes, you could actually buy a full engine with turbo through the parts system cheaper)
I was able to get the cost down on the injectors, but not the alternator.
If you ever have to get parts for your 7.3 from a dealer here (either because its a specific item to Brazilian built units, or because you are in a rush), make sure they contact Ford Australia to clarify/contest the price and rattle the chain, low volume parts can often be priced excessively high by the dealer and by Ford, and despite what you may think/be told, there IS wiggle room, and sometimes quite a lot. (I think the injectors we got down to about 8k for a set, not great - but could you imagine being hit with a 32k bill on parts alone for replacing injectors!)