I'm in a tough spot here....I replaced my Serpentine belt about 2 days ago....all went just find. It looks good and tight.

After an extended run on the highway (about 200 miles at 75 ).....the amp guage was showing low.....it fluctuated a little during the trip...then last night when the lights were turned on....things started getting dim....and after parking...the battery did not have enough to start up.

I got a jump....and it started right up. I got back okay and now I need to replace something.

I would normally just replace the alternator. However, this happened just a few days After replacing the serpentine belt...so I wonder.

At 150K miles, the alternator has NOT be replaced....so....Is this just a coincidence that it went out right after replacing the belt (which had also never been replaced)......or does this happen at times and is somehow related??

I'm SURE the belt is installed/routed properly.....it is nice and tight...stuff spins fine.

Also...Changing the Alternator looks like just a Bolt-On job....is it as easy as it looks...or do I need to be aware of anything tricky?

(98 Explorer XLT 4x4 SOHC 4.0L 6cyl)

This is my only vehicle...so...I'm kinda in a bind.

THANKS MUCH !

 

test your alternator and battery and see which one is bad and replace as needed. the alternator is fairly easy like you said bolt-on job. just make sure you disconnect the battery before working on the alternator. good luck hope this helps you out.

 

I would think that if you got a jump and the truck ran fine, it would be the battery not the altenator. You can take it to most autopoarts stores and have them tested while on the truck. If the battery is dead they will need to charge it for an hour or so to test it.

 

Could be a few things. Check battery cables to ensure they are clean and not impeading current flow between the battery and altenator. Compare the blet routing to the litttle routing diagram that should be somewher inder your hood or in the owners manual. As suggested above, have the battery checked and then have the altenator checked. Unless it is a problem withhow the belt is routed, I suspect it's just coincidence that you happened upon this charging problem. BTW - did the lights continue to operate dim after the jump of did things brighten up. What about the amp guage after the jump? If everything came back fine aftr the jumpt, it could be the jump moved something just enough on the battery post to improve current flow.

 

Thanks very much for the info.

It was the alternator after all.

I suspected it was since the lights did not come on after the jump...they were as dim as ever and eventually went out.

My "bind" was just that. I actually started this thread from a hotel room in GA. My father and I were there to watch a professional golf tourney (BellSouth Classic). We try to make it every year. Needless to say...I was really feeling bad about things because he was with me and I would have felt responsible for him missing the match.

That night...I checked Autozone and Advance for stock and pricing. They both had them in stock, but each was a couple of miles away. Well...guess what just so happend to be right across the road from the hotel? A NAPA warehouse which had a regular retail shop in the front! I had not checked with them thinking they would be the most expensive and only have new in stock....but....as things would have it..they had the Cheapest price of all.

There was target just down the road were I got a cheap-o socket set. A couple of sockets shattered on the first turn....but I at least had the socket wrench and got a REAL deep socket from NAPA.

In about an hour or so....it was installed....I got my refund on the core...and we made the tourney by noon. It all worked out in the end. I said a prayer of thanks soon afterwards.

And if you happened to see the Monday ending on the Golf Channel.....we were sitting right on the edge of the green in those big canvas camping chairs when Michelson made the winning put on the FOURTH playoff hole...it really was an incredible ending.

Thanks

 

Glad to hear it worked out. I used to live less than 10 miles from the course. It is a beautiful place this time of year.