Alternator- maybe...
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Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2011
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Alternator- maybe...
Good morning.
Took the excursion on a trip, have the batteries checked before the trip. It check out good (3 yrs old bat). After 4 days, couple thousand miles, the battery light went on. Scan gage show 11.6 V. After a few min. Bat light turn off, scanguage show charging to 13.3 V. This happen several times when I stop and restart the truck.
Thinking the alternator is on it way out. I am still at least 350 miles from home. How do I know for sure it is the alternator ? I can buy an alternator from Ford dealer here in Fontana, CA to change out before driving home. Don't have much tools with me but will try to change out the alternator today.
The bat light kept turning off after startup and drive a few minutes. Do I want to chance it to drive home or change the alternator now?
Thanks
Took the excursion on a trip, have the batteries checked before the trip. It check out good (3 yrs old bat). After 4 days, couple thousand miles, the battery light went on. Scan gage show 11.6 V. After a few min. Bat light turn off, scanguage show charging to 13.3 V. This happen several times when I stop and restart the truck.
Thinking the alternator is on it way out. I am still at least 350 miles from home. How do I know for sure it is the alternator ? I can buy an alternator from Ford dealer here in Fontana, CA to change out before driving home. Don't have much tools with me but will try to change out the alternator today.
The bat light kept turning off after startup and drive a few minutes. Do I want to chance it to drive home or change the alternator now?
Thanks
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
You're doing the right thing changing the alternator because it's failing, not to mention taking your other electronics with it while it does. I'm not sure on the bolt torque. I use the good and snug method but remember they are going into aluminum.
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Posting Guru
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Bought one from Sunrise Ford in Fontana, Ca. 110 Amp. I was thinking about the 140 amp. But the parts guy at sunrise doesn't know about the difference, so to make sure it fit I got the original.
Now I have to figure out how to get the belt off.
Now I have to figure out how to get the belt off.
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Posting Guru
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From: Las Vegas, Nevada
Heard that autozone one kept failling so I don't want to chance it and replace it every few months
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: Jefferson, Iowa
My brother had problems with advance autos alternators. BTW it's not a lifetime warranty if they are for a diesel application. He changed his 3 times in a year and then finally denied a 4th. Just a 6.0, nothing special going on electrical wise. Screwed the ficm and one of the batteries by the time it was done.
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I had an alternator recently go out on me. Here's some symptoms that puzzled me prior to knowing what was going on over a 3 month period:
- Headlights appeared to surge (very subtle) while driving at night, this was driving me crazy I thought it was my eyes.
- Cranking/starting was slower than normal on a few morning.
- A 3 month period where batteries lost charge 3 times, I bought a Diehard battery charger/tester. The batteries recharged and tested okay.
Finally at the tipping, the batteries were not charging while the truck was running (an obvious point to reach and panick watching the FICM main power and logic power running below the typical values).
Ended up installing a DC power alternator and now have proper battery voltages while running and no surging headlights at night.
- Headlights appeared to surge (very subtle) while driving at night, this was driving me crazy I thought it was my eyes.
- Cranking/starting was slower than normal on a few morning.
- A 3 month period where batteries lost charge 3 times, I bought a Diehard battery charger/tester. The batteries recharged and tested okay.
Finally at the tipping, the batteries were not charging while the truck was running (an obvious point to reach and panick watching the FICM main power and logic power running below the typical values).
Ended up installing a DC power alternator and now have proper battery voltages while running and no surging headlights at night.
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