Alternator

[kingkevindavid]

Well my alternator went bad today. It started up fine and ran fine all day except that the battery light came on first thing this morning but went off after about 5 minutes of driving. I got to where I was going, shut the truck down and left 10 minutes later. Battery light did the same thing, came on then off about 5 minutes after driving. I decided to clean all the connections, still had a battery light except now it wouldn't shut off. Pulled out the multimeter and each battery was right around 12.5 volts with truck off, 12.1 volts with key on and not running and 12.5 volts with the truck running, tested at the alternator. picked up a new alternator for $201.00 with a lifetime warranty, be here at 07:30 tomorrow.
I am going to attempt to do this with out taking the fan shroud off. I think the belt will pull the idler pulley up if I am lucky. I have the old alternator sitting in the position I am going to try when I get the new one. I am using a bungee cord to make sure the belt doesn't come off any pulleys (see the picture). It fell off once and took me and two other guys 15 minutes to put it back on. If it falls off again I am going to just take out the whole fan shroud to do the job. If I have to do this, I will take pictures step by step because I don't think anyone has posted it yet (correct me if I am wrong because I was looking for it) The score marks in the shroud are pretty easy to get at, so I don,t think it will be to much of a job, should cut fine with the dremel, if not the 3 inch cut-off wheel is my second favorite tool next to a 5 pound hammer.
I will update as I do the job.

 

[bushpilot]

I'd appreciate any photos and tips you can provide about doing the swap out.

what alternator did you get w/ a lifetime ? whered you buy it ? whats the rated output ?

 

[kingkevindavid]

I got a stock rated 110 amp alternator from Advanced Auto Parts. Guy gave me a Military discount, ended up paying $201 and change after tax. Autozone quoted me $229 before tax so somewhere around $250, that was with a lifetime as well. Ford was the same price as autozone but only a 12 months 12,000 mile warranty. I also had to pay a $55.00 core charge.

I asked about a higher amp alternator and the only one that I could find was a 150 amp, I considered it because I am probably moving back to the Northeast in a year or so and will put a plow on the truck, but the price was around $360 before tax. If I burn one every 50000 miles with a plow, then I can live with that.

I looked over the shroud pretty good, doesnt look to hard. Only part i am skeptical about is the second have, between the fan and the engine block. Its a little hard to see how that comes apart. If my idea to get the new alternator on fails, I will take plenty of pictures and do my best at a write-up for you guys

 

[F350DRW1]

You can also pull the idler pulley down from the bottom using a small ratchet strap with hooks on the ends, like you'd use to tie down a quad on a trailer. Hold the belt up with a bungee, replace alternator, release belt, then release ratchet strap and your golden. This can be accomplished in a Hotel parking lot, if needed.

 

[kingkevindavid]

I have heard of this technique before as well, It looks to be an extremely tight fit to get to the idler pulley I found this picture and it all made sense though.
sounds like you talk about a hotel parking lot from experience!

 

[Kleetus]

Just pray the bungee on the hood doesn't close the hood on you when you're in there working on it... that would leave a mark in both you and the hood!

 

[F350DRW1]

sounds like you talk about a hotel parking lot from experience!

I've had a few issues traveling. Fixed it with what I had handy. Wasn't my idea, though..I read about the idler pulley trick on this site. Lot of good things on here.

 

[kingkevindavid]

Well it all went back together without a problem. Didn't have to take apart the shroud or even use the ratchet strap trick. I looked at using a ratchet strap at the beginning and there is no way I was going to get my hand anywhere near the idler pulley! you guys that have used the ratchet strap must be a contortionist. (I am sure there is a easier way than I was looking at it but I couldn't see it.
If you look at the original picture at the beginning, thats basically what I did to get the belt on. I set the alternator under the belt in its slack position with the new alternator at about a 45 degree angle. I used the the alternator to lever it up along with pulling on the belt with my left hand. It was surprisingly easy to move the idler pulley by pulling up on the belt, just not easy enough to mount the alternator then pop the belt on. once you get the alternator back to the flat position, have a bolt handy and get it started and you are all set. i used a rubber mallet to move the alternator around a little once the first bolt is caught. Would have been a lot easier with two people but I did it myself.

 

[VinceJE]

Well it all went back together without a problem. Didn't have to take apart the shroud or even use the ratchet strap trick. I looked at using a ratchet strap at the beginning and there is no way I was going to get my hand anywhere near the idler pulley! you guys that have used the ratchet strap must be a contortionist. (I am sure there is a easier way than I was looking at it but I couldn't see it.
If you look at the original picture at the beginning, thats basically what I did to get the belt on. I set the alternator under the belt in its slack position with the new alternator at about a 45 degree angle. I used the the alternator to lever it up along with pulling on the belt with my left hand. It was surprisingly easy to move the idler pulley by pulling up on the belt, just not easy enough to mount the alternator then pop the belt on. once you get the alternator back to the flat position, have a bolt handy and get it started and you are all set. i used a rubber mallet to move the alternator around a little once the first bolt is caught. Would have been a lot easier with two people but I did it myself.

This method works. It saves alot of time (and saved my *****). Got my alternator changed in the dark with only a couple tools, bungi cord, and a flashlight by myself. Total replacement time was about 45 minutes (not counting the ride to the parts house).

 

[kingkevindavid]

glad to see it worked for you Vince!!