Alternator took a dump

[Mocha91SHO]

Okay guys my 97 cut out on me the other day and I am pretty sure its the alternator. This may sound dumb but is the 1/2nd gen alternator the same as a 3rd gen's or am I stuck with having to shell out cash for a new alternator?

 

[SHOZ123]

No they are not the same. The Windstar is I've heard but has a different pulley.

Beware of the replacement as it is such a PITA to change and may rebuilds are junk. Can't remember which is the best at the moment. Probably a crap shoot no matter what.

i had a rebuild from a local alternator and starter rebuilder. The bearings went out in two years. Changed it last weekend for a used one that I had on one of my spare motors. It turned out to have a bad regulator. So I had the pleasure of changing it twice in one day. 2 hours first time, 45 minutes the second.

Here is my procedure. You will find others on V8SHOO.com I have very big hands a little patience which is why I lower the subframe.

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From the top.....

Disconnect the battery.

Remove fuel lines at the fuel rail.

Remove passenger side cowling.

Remove the top alternator bolt. If this is original it has a stud on it. A 14 mm ratcheting wrench is the way to go.

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On the bottom.

Jack up car, support the car at the floor rails with jack stands and remove passenger side tire.

Remove lower sway bar nut.

Remove tire rod end.

Support subframe passenger side with a jack.

Remove subframe bolts for the passenger side only, then thread in three turns.

Lower subframe to rest on the bolts then support with jack.

Remove alternator output wire (10 mm nut).

Remove two 14 mm bolts.

Take belt off of alternator.

Wiggle alternator out carefully and remove three wire sensor plug.

Remove alternator.

I cut all the studs off of the 14 mm bolts when I reinstalled.

 

[Mr. SHO]

From everything I've heard, you should use either a NEW Ford alternator or a Westling reman alternator. They seem to be the only ones with a proven track record in the Gen 3 SHO. Westling remans are sold at CarQuest, IIRC. There are NO cheap options for alternators in these cars. Dozens of people have given up on their "lifetime warranty" alternators after having to replace them a few times because they are basically junk right out of the box.

 

[Mocha91SHO]

Thanks guys I appriciate it. Yeah, it sucks that they have to be expensive but what can you do?

 

[MilTownSHO]

Not much, alternators suck on the V8's, just paid some handsome bucks myself to have one replaced.

 

[DavidT]

do you have an option of a NEW Ford alternator vs. a Ford remanufactured alternator if it is warranty work at the Ford Dealership service shop? I found out today that the alt. they replaced in my sho 3 months ago is indeed a remanufactured alt. I get lower voltage under full load when it is hot. :hpoop:

 

[Mr Anonymous]

do you have an option of a NEW Ford alternator vs. a Ford remanufactured alternator if it is warranty work at the Ford Dealership service shop? I found out today that the alt. they replaced in my sho 3 months ago is indeed a remanufactured alt. I get lower voltage under full load when it is hot. :hpoop:

Brand new alternators are no longer available through Ford, or even any of the aggregators who buy out their obsolete NOS inventory.

Ford rebuilds are done by different companies, regionally based on their warehouse locations (same thing with trannys, which for the northeast are all built in MA about 1/2 an hour from our shop).

 

[Xmann01]

Brand new alternators are no longer available through Ford, or even any of the aggregators who buy out their obsolete NOS inventory.

Ford rebuilds are done by different companies, regionally based on their warehouse locations (same thing with trannys, which for the northeast are all built in MA about 1/2 an hour from our shop).

Yeah thats what I found out when I tried to get a new alternator from my local dealer. He was like... "....uhhhh.... if you want a new one you'll have to have some one make it for you. " LOL!

 

[f150fan]

I bought a Palladium rebuilt alternator in April and it took a dump a few weeks ago. Being that it had a life time warranty, I took it back and Advance Auto gave me a Brand new, never used, alternator made by Palladium as they didn't have the reman's in stock. The alternator was 40 bucks more then the reman one but they didn't charge me the difference as he felt sorry for me when I told him where the alternator was located on the SHO's. This alternator, unlike my old reman, has no ford badging on it. Here's the one they gave me here http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=PLD&mfrpartnumber=92400&parttype=11&ptset=A and so far so good. So this is a new one, but I'm not sure where they got the parts? Good luck!

 

[DavidT]

Greg, do you by chance have a volts gauge in the cabin of your sho?
What kind of voltage do you get with the headlights and AC on, in the heat of the day, and you have been driving in stop and go traffic for 30+ minutes? (sorry for being so vague... )

 

[f150fan]

Greg, do you by chance have a volts gauge in the cabin of your sho?
What kind of voltage do you get with the headlights and AC on, in the heat of the day, and you have been driving in stop and go traffic for 30+ minutes? (sorry for being so vague... )

lol...no problem. Yup, I have an autometer sport comp volt gauge and I usually see around 13.8 or so, maybe a little less, with everything on at a stop light. (A/C, brake lights, headlights, wipers and radio)

 

[DavidT]

with everything on, and in the morning, on a cold start, I get 14.1-14.4, which is what I understand to be expected. However, when I come home from work, in the heat of the day, and if I hit lots of stop and go traffic, I have seen the voltage drop as low as 12.8 ... usually it will drop to about 13.3.

 

[SHOZ123]

That has to be the battery causing that. It is the load for the alternator and the fact it starts out high and slowly drops means the alternator is working fine.

What kind of battery do you have? Have you ever added water to it? What is the voltage in the morning on the battery before starting the car?

My voltage goes form 14.2 to 13.7 after an hour of driving.

 

[DavidT]

That has to be the battery causing that. It is the load for the alternator and the fact it starts out high and slowly drops means the alternator is working fine.

What kind of battery do you have? Have you ever added water to it? What is the voltage in the morning on the battery before starting the car?

My voltage goes form 14.2 to 13.7 after an hour of driving.

Odyssey PC1200
I think the voltage is around 12.5V before a morning startup.
Should I have my battery tested at Autozone?
I do plan on relocating to the trunk... think that will help?

 

[SHOZ123]

Depends on where you are measuring the voltage. At the battery when it is reading low? The PC 1200 will not fail AZs mickey mouse load test. That's not going to tell you anything anyway.

See if the voltages are the same at the battery and at the radiator side of the MEGA fuse when the voltage is reading in the low 13Vs.

12.5V at the battery is good open circuit and after resting 12 hours. There is a minor load on the battery when it is sitting in the car. 13.3 is low IMHO. Temperature of the battery will affect the voltage too. Maybe it's too hot?