So last night I was going to post here because I was 95% sure my alternator was going out after 135K miles, but decided not to, I will just test it tomorrow I thought. Well I get up and take my mom to the train and to get a bagel. "OK Same symptoms as yesterday, definitely test when I get home" turned into "What else can I turn off to make it home!"

I was about 2.5 miles from home when problems arose. I had my radio on very quiet, and it started kicking out, so I turn that off, maybe .5 miles down the road my voltage gauge drops dead, then some other gauges die another mile down the road, so I turn the dash lights down and the windshield wipers down. Another .5 miles down the road, I notice my headlights are gone and the rest of my gauges, and in the last .5 miles, it was hiccuping, lights on the dash such as the ABS and SRS light came on, but the battery light never came on

So I am sitting at home now and my dad wants to know if we can take it to a garage to get it fixed, or whether to have it towed or not...

Am I right that an alternator is just 1-2 wires, a few mounting screws, and releasing tension on the belt to remove it, and vice versa to put it back? I know you have to remove the intake tube, but thats not a problem, as well as anything else being removed, not a problem.

 

I did the alternator in my 2000 expedition in the parking lot of an auto parts store. The hardest part was getting the belt back on, I ended up buying a breaker bar just for that and it was still painful. It doesn't help that I had to sit up on the grill and had no leverage.

Just be sure to check the charging fuse. I changed my alternator and battery and STILL had issues. Turned out the fuse under the hood was burned out. I'm not sure to this day whether the alternator was really bad since they couldn't test it (battery was tested and was bad).

 

Yes you're correct. If it were me I'd change the alternator first, then give it a jump start. You could end up saving yourself a world of money between the tow and diagnostic charges.

If it takes more than 15 minutes to change it, then you have no business ever touching a tool again.

 

Well my dad decided that I am not smart enough to change the alternator, so he called a tow truck. Being the mental giant he is, he didn't realize he needed a flat bed, so when the tow truck showed up I asked my dad where the REAL tow truck was.

And he says I am the one who shouldn't touch a car...

 

I thought this was your truck? If so, I would think that's your call; unless he plans on springing for the bill.

 

Ya caught me, I dont feel like typing it out, I dont even like saying it. If someone asks specifically, its my parents trucklet, but if I am just in conversation, I say mine, as in the one I drive. It is much easier to just say "my expedition" than to go through the whole process of how its not mine, but my parents.

 

so did they use dollies while towing, tow with wheels on the ground or just send for a FB? If they towed with any wheels on the ground and it is 4x4 I would ask who is paying for the damage that they just caused.

 

We ended up waiting it out for a flat bed, I offered to take the driveshaft off, and lift the front 2 wheels on the tow truck, but my dad got real pissed about that suggestion.

 

Sorry for the newbie question, but where is the "charging fuse" located on a 2001 Expy with 5.4L? I have replaced my battery and alternator, checked the continuity of the alternator wiring harness, cleaned up the terminals and it's still not charging.

 

It was under the hood on the driver's side, there are quite a few fuses there. The owner's manual had a picture. Mine was a 2000 model, not sure if there is a difference.

 

In the under hood power box, it's fuse #11 a 20A one and it's labeled as being for the Alternator Field.