Hi folks. I have a problem. Coming home tonight I drove the last 10 minutes in total darkness with only enough power apparently to keep fuel pump running. I just replaced the alternator two weeks ago but it seems to have gone again. At the alternator I have 11.3v at idle. There is a two wire plug plus the power cable. One of the wires has constant on power. The other has nothing. It is not switched even though I think it is supposed to be. Does anyone know?

Is it fused somewhere?

Thanks
Torie

 

the 2 wires should be the "battery" and the "sensing wire". I suspect if you disconnect the positive from the battery itself, you'll have no juice on either. You're basically not getting the trigger from the ignition to tell the alternator to function. You're running on battery power until it drops too low to function.
Obviously start checking connectors from the alternator to the fuse box, to the switch, you're going to need the wiring diagram for this one.

 

Gas or Diesel?

My alternator has 3 connections, not two...one is the battery lead, then a 3 prong connector, then a single wire connector - it's a V10. Are you running a diesel (hence just the single connector plus battery lead)?

 

I was gonna ask the same question, then I looked at his user name and figured since VegiePower was chosen, he must have a PSD because gassers can't run on that stuff.

But you know what they say about assuming....

Stewart

 

Hmmm...so diesel alternators only have the battery lead and one connector? Wonder what's different that gassers have two connectors plus the battery lead?

Funny related story...well, not funny.

Replaced my alt last weekend (it died Saturday). Call up my local Pep Boys to price out an alternator and see if they can slap it in for me (I had planned to do some work at the station and thought maybe they could do it quicker). Here is how the phone call went:

Rob: Hey, how much for an alternator for a 2000 Excursion V10?

PB: $199 with a lifetime warranty.

Rob: Can you install it today? If so, how much is the installed price?

PB: $260.

Rob: That's parts and labor?

PB: No, that's labor and guarantee.

Rob: So...460?!

PB: Yea, parts, install and guarantee.

Rob: Wait, you said it's lifetime on the alternator...but it's separate if you install it?

PB: (laughing) No, that's the labor guarantee. Labor is $130, Labor Guarantee is $130. If the labor fails, you can bring it back and we'll fix it for free!

Rob: Labor guarantee?! How can you f#%k up three bolts? What if I buy the atlernator, walk around to the install bay and have you install it?

PB: Policy, we have to include the labor guarantee or we can't install it.

Rob: So let me get this right...you want to charge me $199 for the part...

PB: Correct

Rob: ...and another $130 to loosen the belt, take off three bolts and three wires, then charge me another $130 to guarantee that you got the three bolts and three wires put on right?

PB: ...correct, but

Rob: Yea...you'll never put a wrench on my truck, thankyouverymuch. CLICK

So I go get the IAC at O'Reilly that I also replaced that day and swing by the PB store to have the old alternator checked before buying the new one.

The guy can't seem to figure out how to connect it to the machine to test it (even though they have a step-by-step screen on how to do it). I gently moved him to his left about 2 feet and set it in and put the belt on - then told him "now you need to connect the adapter". He finds it and comes back with "oh, the machine says it can't do the test". I said 'well why didn't you hook up that third wire like the screen says right there?'

Tests it again and comes back with "oh, our adapter is bad, we can't test it".

...off to O'Reilly to get the same lifetime warranty alternator and to regale them with the lack of ...everything from their competitor.

As it turned out, I had it done in about 45 minutes including the time it took to fix the alternator wire end that had been overheated.

 

Yes, one connector and one eye ring wire.

I dunno how it is on the gassers, but on the 7.3's, the alternator sits right on top, easy access.

It takes about 9 minutes to swap out the alt on a 7.3L and 3 minutes of that is grabbing the tools and putting them away when you're finished, and 2 minutes to grab a cold one.

Stewart

 

I hope your referring to a soft drink, since this is a family site

 

I used to drink more than 6-pack of Diet Coke a day, but now I might have that much in one month.

I rarely have beer anymore so my drink of choice now is...


Stewart