Alternator Removal
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2008
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Alternator Removal
Alright well. Driving home from dinner with the girlfriend tonight i noticed my amp gauge was way low and, showing all the typical signs of a failed alternator. So when i got home i went to take it out. I got the 2 plugs out of it and i got the top bolt out, but there is another bolt towards the right side of the alternator, not sure what it does or what but i went to take it off and BAM! broken knuckle and broken bolt haha. SO question is, I notice there is a bracket that seems to wrap around the alternator itself, with the long bolt at the bottom right by the water pump pulley. I'm going to try to get this off and pull the alternator out this way. Question is would this be the recommended way to do it, or should i go another route? Or is there a possible diagram showing the alternator and its bracket. Or a detailed description of exactly how to remove it? Thanks. The truck is a 1987 F150 with a 4.9l.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Baltimore
Long bolt is the pivot bolt, Top bolt is the adjuster bolt. Remove the short bolt and the bracket bolts if they are in the way. and the long bolt(and nut behind it, if any.) Should be no problem.
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well, after 2 days and lots of drilling, i managed to drill through the top bolt of the alternator, and now it will move. The bottom bolt is proving to be a pain though. And also, there are 2 connectors, one top and one bottom. The top one comes out really easily, but the bottom one there seems to be no way to loosen the hold the clips have on it..any suggestions? Thanks.
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Joined: Jul 2009
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did you snap off the bottom bolt? i was just looking at taking the whole bracket off that holds the alternator and it seemed like a little work but do-able.
i just finished taking out my alternator and ran into some similar problems. I have same setup, 4.9L manual trans in a 1993. I didnt have a problem getting the bolts out, but once the bottom bolt was out the alternator would only pivot and not come out. After about an hour or so of hammering/prying, i finally got a flat pry bar and snuck it under the alternator on the driver's side of it. After a nice yank it finally popped out.
as for the plug on the bottom of the alternator, i left it on until i got the alternator free. it has the clips on the side that you need to pry out while pulling the plug out. i ended up snapping mine, but found that the inside of that plug was all corroded, which i'm sure was causing my problem, so i'm gonna try and replace the whole thing anyways.
i just finished taking out my alternator and ran into some similar problems. I have same setup, 4.9L manual trans in a 1993. I didnt have a problem getting the bolts out, but once the bottom bolt was out the alternator would only pivot and not come out. After about an hour or so of hammering/prying, i finally got a flat pry bar and snuck it under the alternator on the driver's side of it. After a nice yank it finally popped out.
as for the plug on the bottom of the alternator, i left it on until i got the alternator free. it has the clips on the side that you need to pry out while pulling the plug out. i ended up snapping mine, but found that the inside of that plug was all corroded, which i'm sure was causing my problem, so i'm gonna try and replace the whole thing anyways.
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well today i managed to get the whole bracket off, i had to pull off the pulley to the smog pump? i'm assuming this is what this pump is, then i got the bolts out, was 5 bolts holding it into block/head! So now that i got the whole bracket off, which i found also holds the smog pump on. So now its time to wrestle the alternator off the bracket, then re-tap the threads for the bottom bolt. I looked on the internet, but couldnt find a new alternator bracket so i'm going to have to get my old alternator out, which sucks. But oh well. I will post pics probably later tonight. Thanks guys.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: USCGC Never Home
Any chance you are in Cali? I have a bracket you can have including the smog pump and a alt, unknown condition.
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pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: EXTREME southwest CT
The pivot bolt that passes through the alternator often gets corroded in place.
Dissimilar metals I suppose..
Best to really cover the new bolt in grease to keep it from happening again.
Yes, those plugs have a reputation for melting. And sometimes shorting out and causing a fire.
Dissimilar metals I suppose..
Best to really cover the new bolt in grease to keep it from happening again.
Yes, those plugs have a reputation for melting. And sometimes shorting out and causing a fire.
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burnin, you have any idea what alternator you're gonna go with? With mine the bottom pigtail connector is fried, and the replacement parts are discontinued because of this same problem.
am gonna head to the junk yard this weekend and try to get the parts for a 3g upgrade. I realize there are a few threads on this, but i'm curious if anyones done it and if it's actually as straight forward as it seems to be?
am gonna head to the junk yard this weekend and try to get the parts for a 3g upgrade. I realize there are a few threads on this, but i'm curious if anyones done it and if it's actually as straight forward as it seems to be?
Former Vendor
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Westford, MA
If you need a new alternator we have them for your truck.Ours unlike the parts store are new NOT rebuilt and there's no core charge.Our price is pretty close to the parts store rebuilt pricing too.
Ford Truck Alternator
Ford Truck Alternator
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Hey Tony
I just went to your website to see how much for a radiator fan clutch for my truck.
That is probably the worst site I have ever used for looking up parts.
Sorry, not trying to be cruel, but giving you my opinion and honest feedback.
Never did find the clutch, just gave up. Willing to bet I'm not the only potential customer that gave up and went elsewhere.
Frank
I just went to your website to see how much for a radiator fan clutch for my truck.
That is probably the worst site I have ever used for looking up parts.
Sorry, not trying to be cruel, but giving you my opinion and honest feedback.
Never did find the clutch, just gave up. Willing to bet I'm not the only potential customer that gave up and went elsewhere.
Frank
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From: Baltimore
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