alternator dead, advice needed...
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Louisville
alternator dead, advice needed...
File this in the 'this sucks' column. My alternator seems to have died yesterday. The voltmeter moved up and down a bit and then went to about 12V. A voltmeter showed 11.85 volts with the engine running and my girlfriend listening to the radio with the heat on (she wouldn't turn anything off for me!) The alternator was cool to the touch after driving for 20-30 miles so nothing is happening inside, I think. Now my question is: can I rebuild it? Who offers a good kit? I hate to put on one from the local parts house, can you say cheap junk? A new ford one would be pricey I bet. I will be looking for one today anyway. Does anyone have a spare they want to sell me? Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 309
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From: Stewartstown, Pa
Actually you can go to advance and get it checked for free but it does sound like your alternator is bad. I got mine from advance and it has lasted a long time. (that was on my old 97). As far as rebuilding it, if you find a local shop you can get it done for about 60-90$. And a new one, with core, is only about 150 from advance if I remember correctly.
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Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Greater Floyd Area, AR
Originally Posted by 1969fordguy
I hate to put on one from the local parts house, can you say cheap junk? A new ford one would be pricey I bet. I will be looking for one today anyway. Does anyone have a spare they want to sell me? Thanks.
jimbo
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From: Louisville
I replaced the alternator tonight, worked like a champ. While I had it loose I decided to replace the serpentine belt too. As it turned out that was the hardest part of the job! Thanks for talking me out of rebuilding it.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2001
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From: Cabot, Arkansas
The nice thing about the Autozone part is the warranty. So if you get a junk one, which does happen from time to time, you get a free replacement. Only cost's you a little more of your time.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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From: Marble Falls, Texas
I know that this is after the fact, but I think you could have gotten away with just replacing the voltage regulator. On our trucks it's on the back side of the alt, held on with 4 torx screws. I had an alt drop on me and I just replaced the voltage regulator for like $40. I had the same alt drop again a few weeks ago. Except this time you could see where the brushes ride on the alternator shaft was worn out, so I had to opt for a new one. But this is the second post I read where guys just replaced the alt without trying the voltage regulator first. Just my .02.
RubberDuck
RubberDuck
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From: Louisville
Um, thanks for the *slightly late* info RubberDuck! The way the voltmeter moved erraticly for several hours before giving up lends credibility to your idea. Perhaps you could have saved me $110... Oh well in 9 more years it will be time for it to go out again...
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From: Marble Falls, Texas
Sorry brother, I wish I could have saved you the money. But now you know. We'll just say the whole thing was trashed and a voltage reg wouldn't have saved it. Again sorry man for not seeing it sooner.
RubberDuck
RubberDuck