Electrical
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Washington, D.C.
Electrical
Hey guys..It's been a while, trouble brings me back.
I let my wife use the truck. She calls me from the side of the road to tell me that while she was driving she heard a noise, described as grinding, and then white smoke came out from under the hood and the battery light started flashing. She pulled over and had it towed to a gas station.
I met her there and took a gander under the hood. I noticed that electrical burn smell and it seemed like it was comming from, what I think is the starter silenoid, behind the battery on the passenger side of the truck.
The truck is now being looked at by a service station. The mechanic called me about an hour ago to tell me the alternator is bad and needs to be replaced before he can move on to finding out what is burned up.
Parts and labor for the alternator $330.00
...Should I throw some lube back there or is this ride gonna be rough no matter what?
96 PSD.
I let my wife use the truck. She calls me from the side of the road to tell me that while she was driving she heard a noise, described as grinding, and then white smoke came out from under the hood and the battery light started flashing. She pulled over and had it towed to a gas station.
I met her there and took a gander under the hood. I noticed that electrical burn smell and it seemed like it was comming from, what I think is the starter silenoid, behind the battery on the passenger side of the truck.
The truck is now being looked at by a service station. The mechanic called me about an hour ago to tell me the alternator is bad and needs to be replaced before he can move on to finding out what is burned up.
Parts and labor for the alternator $330.00
...Should I throw some lube back there or is this ride gonna be rough no matter what?96 PSD.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 9,010
Likes: 5
From: Johnson City, TN.
The prices I see are $150 - $200 for an alternator. He is really getting alot of cash for labor there.
You might need the lube.
If it were me I would replace the alternator and that solenoid myself and you will be $ ahead.
You might need the lube.
If it were me I would replace the alternator and that solenoid myself and you will be $ ahead.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
Is there any way that you can get the truck back to your house and work on it your self? Changing an alt is really easy and quick too. We can walk you through the rest of the testing and repairs.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Washington, D.C.
Yeah I thought about that...Problem is the truck broke down about one hour from the house. To tow it to me would be almost that much. Showing up in the middle of the night to repar it myself will get me some face time with the cops. 
I dont have the skill to trace electrical stuff anyway. I'm just gonna consult with a street hooker to learn how to barter down the price of my butt, cuase I think they are gonna try and slam it.
I dont have the skill to trace electrical stuff anyway. I'm just gonna consult with a street hooker to learn how to barter down the price of my butt, cuase I think they are gonna try and slam it.
Thread Starter
|
Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Washington, D.C.
Yeah, but he's out of town on vacation....Funny you ask, because I always offer to tow someone when they break down. Now I'm stuck and no around can help me..kinda sucks.
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Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Washington, D.C.
I'll only bleed for a few days after this. It was the alternator and nothing else...I told the mechanic that I researched the prices of alternators, the most $$$ being from AutoPartsWarehouse.com is $147.29. And asked if they could throw in a oil change with the price..there was about 10 seconds of silence and the guy said he would see what he can do.
I took someones advice and kept a spare CPS sensor and small socket set in the truck, for just in case....Well I wound up using it, this was about 1 year ago.
Any other advise on spare stuff to keep in the truck, minus a spare alternator.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
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From: AZ
Buy a alternator, go to the truck and change it yourself. Its really easy, sits right on top. You don't even have to take the belt off, pull the tenioner, slip the belt off the alternator and use a pair of vice gripes to hold the slack out of the belt, it will be ready when your done.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
Likes: 11
From: Rochdale MA
Thanks allot for reminding me of the vast amount of technical info here from the members, It's been a while since someone offered me something out of sincerity.
I'll only bleed for a few days after this. It was the alternator and nothing else...I told the mechanic that I researched the prices of alternators, the most $$$ being from AutoPartsWarehouse.com is $147.29. And asked if they could throw in a oil change with the price..there was about 10 seconds of silence and the guy said he would see what he can do.
I took someones advice and kept a spare CPS sensor and small socket set in the truck, for just in case....Well I wound up using it, this was about 1 year ago.
Any other advise on spare stuff to keep in the truck, minus a spare alternator.
I'll only bleed for a few days after this. It was the alternator and nothing else...I told the mechanic that I researched the prices of alternators, the most $$$ being from AutoPartsWarehouse.com is $147.29. And asked if they could throw in a oil change with the price..there was about 10 seconds of silence and the guy said he would see what he can do.
I took someones advice and kept a spare CPS sensor and small socket set in the truck, for just in case....Well I wound up using it, this was about 1 year ago.
Any other advise on spare stuff to keep in the truck, minus a spare alternator.
Now that's funny. How many times do people look at her like she is a kid driving????