Pondering about the trick where one can root a 10 or 8 gauge wire from the back of the alternaator right to the driver's side battery. Anything to this other than the obvious?

Also, can anyone tell me the signs of alternator failure? My alternator was making a weird noise as I was jumping my friends car. Everyminute or so it would start making a grinding sound which has me concerned pre 4000 mile trip.

 

Like what Dan did??? Check out post #5.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/982231-vsm.html

 

I ran mine under the IC pipe, around the end of my 6637, and around the outside of the battery between the battery and the fender wall. The main reason I went that route was because I was also running a new positive wire from the alternator over to a remote rectifier bridge with an inline 200 amp ANL fuse, and just decided it was simpler to run the two cables parallel with one another. I've taken some pics, but haven't posted everything up yet.

 

Thanks guys, looks like I was going to use a wire that was too thin nd I didn't consider a ground. I like the idea of having my batteries charged up for this winter.

 

Might pay to have a new alternator behind the seat for your trip. I know that they aren't cheap but neither is a breakdown somewhere along 4000 miles. Yours sounds like bearings and they won't last very long if noisy. Or have yours rebuilt if there is a good shop nearby. Much cheaper and usually much better than an auto parts store one.

 

I always shut down my engine when jump starting another vehicle. If you jump it with your motor running you risk drawing WAY to much amperage from your alternator....if your batteries are good just jumping another vehicle isn't going to put a dent in your reserve capacity.

If yours is making noise I would swap it/rebuild it or carry a spare. As for a replacement...well I have had quite a bit of trouble with parts store alternators, nothing catastrophic and I always made it home but I had 2 NAPA alternators that would make my lights flash like I had strobes, they charged fine, in the long run they may have killed my batteries due to overcharging.

Ed could probably get an OEM to you for around $200, maybe a little more.... their kinda heavy

and as a reference point you can make it about 20 miles with fully charged batteries after the alternator fails running no radio/lights/wipers/heat....that IDM is a hungry beast.

 

What will this do? Just even out the charge to both batteries?

 

Helps reduce the I^2R losses between the alternator's output and the battery terminals, ensuring all 14.4 volts gets there.

Pop

 

Sounds like I will be picking one up at Ford before I roll out. Can't take any chances.

 

Make sure to get a new belt to go with it. The belt can cause the alternator to squeal under heavy load (jump starting) if it is warn.

 

Guess you didn't get the word.

It's bad practice to have your engine running when giving a jump to another vehicle.

Pop

 

A big, heavy gauge set of jumper cables will go a long way. with the 2 batteries these trucks have I don't see why you'd need it running to jump another vehicle. If it needs to be running then the other vehicle needs a battery, not just a boost...