As I was driving my Excursion, the alternator caught on fire. I was able to put it out fairly quickly. I had it towed to a diesel shop to get an estimate. What all should I have them look at? Obviously the alternator and associated wiring needs replaced, but what else? FICM, injectors, starter, batteries?

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

Most of the time, if you give a shop the approval to just fix everything that might have been affected, you will end up with a big bill.

You really never want an unknown shop to "test" a FICM. Essentially all they could do is check the voltages on it and whether or not it synced and buzzed the injectors. There is a lot more than that going on inside the FICM. Your best bet there is to send it to CircuitBoardMedics or FICMrepair.com and have them fix and upgrade it ($350 ish). You will save money and get a more reliable FICM. If they replace it, you can be sure it will be with a VERY expensive FICM ($800 ish).............. that is (most likely) low quality.

The starter is tested simply by trying it and see if you get the rpms you need when cranking.

The belt, and obviously the alternator, need to be replaced .....and that is easy enough if you want to tackle it.

Since we don't know how big the fire was, we have no idea of how much damage was done to electrical and electronic components.

If you have to replace all of the battery cables, there are threads on where you can buy upgraded cables that are already the proper size and length.

If you need a new engine harness, you may have a problem. Hard to find them anymore.

I guess I am saying that it is hard to give thorough advice, but if you want to tackle it yourself, you probably will be way better off. We can help you along the way.

Shoot a video of the engine and all the damage you can find, post it on youtube, and place a link to it here in your thread,

 

As Mark said, there are too many variables with the only known "alternator fire". Pictures might help, but it's a deep hole with a shop that doesn't know the truck very well.

 

Normally I would do the work myself. However my insurance is covering it and they said it had to go to a shop. I did take some pictures before it was towed to the shop but no video. Hope this helps.

 

That is quite the mess. The problem with the dry chem is it will corrode aluminum like crazy. And the electrical harness is almost non-existant from Ford.

I have to ask, what alternator is that? The casting on the front housing looks different.

 

So I need to get the dry chem rinsed off ASAP?

I’m not sure what alternator it is. I bought the truck about 6 weeks ago.

 

Yeah, get them to wash it off.

A few people have adopted the 6.4L hairpin alternators to the 6.0L, which takes some work. Those puppies have been known to catch fire. It's rare to see a 6.0L alternator do that, but then not sure if your alternator had a front bearing failure.

https://www.google.com/search?q=powe...client=gws-wiz

 

I would ask for a new harness you can find them. I got a new ford one for my 2003 for like $500. I’d also ask for FICM harness, alternator, new batteries, probably new boots for the intercooler piping, oil change, a good scrubbing, anything that got charred or melted.

 

I don't think he is going to have to ask.