Add me to the failed aftermarket alternator club.

[Kevin Varnes]

Working on a 2014 PIU 3.5 EcoBoost for a friend at work. Original alternator failed August 2023. Got a lifetime warranty (more on that later) alternator from NAPA. I've always had decent luck with their parts. Put it in and it was good....until about a week ago. It felt like the rear bearing was very loose and it was not charging. Pulled it out and swapped it for a new one at NAPA. Installed the new one. It was charging, but the voltage output was jumping all over the place. It was bad enough that the lights would pulse dim-bright-dim-bright. No charging system error on the dash, but it obviously wasn't right. I went to take it back to NAPA to get another one tonight. Guy says he can't authorize a second replacement without talking to a manger (of course none were working then). Then he goes into some diatribe about being promised a raise after 6 weeks and he had been there for 90 days and nothing. Wasn't sure how that was germane to our conversation, but whatever.

Not sure what the point of a lifetime warranty is if it really isn't. I told the owner of the car it would be best to just cut our losses with the NAPA part and get a new Motorcraft alternator. What a pain. Good news is I can get an alternator out of an EcoBoost Explorer in about 20 minutes now. Funny thing is the new Motorcraft is cheaper on RockAuto than the reman part from NAPA. I usually stick to parts store parts for these kinds of things because it is usually easier/faster to warranty them out when they do fail, but I guess I'll have to reconsider that logic in the future.

 

[Rick]

I have had terrible luck with rebuilt alternators and starters to the point that I ask that alternators be tested before leaving the store. What makes things even worse is that their testers are often broken.

 

[peterk9]

There have been many posts about using aftermarket alternators on the Explorer. Many have had issues with them that cleared up by going back to the Ford alternator.

Recommend to not buy a non Motorcraft alternator

2014 Explorer limited here, battery was very low so i hooked up a volt meter to the battery while it was running. determined the alternator wasnt charging at all so i headed down to the parts store (auto zone). Came home with a duralast alternator and put it on the car. Started it up and the...

www.explorerforum.com

Check charging system - All charging system parts have been replaced

I have a 2013 Ford Explorer XLT with 172,000 miles on it. We replaced the alternator on it earlier last year and the battery a few months before that. However we were getting a check charging system notification regularly so the past week I replaced the alternator again with another brand...

www.explorerforum.com

2017 Limited issues after battery and alternator replacement

2017 ford explorer limited 3.5L V6 Just yesterday I had both my battery and alternator replaced and the battery light flashes charging system service. When I drive the battery light goes off and on, and the car never loses power. However I do notice my interior lights flicker a bit and when my...

www.explorerforum.com

If you have to order an alternator, Levittown Ford is a site vendor and offers members a discount.

Alternator for 2014 Ford Police Interceptor Utility | Levittown Ford Parts

parts.levittownfordparts.com

Coupon Codes for Forum Members - Genuine Ford Parts & Accessories

Hi Guys, We have codes available for forum members so if your looking for Genuine Ford replacement parts or Accessories please let us know, Feel free to reply to this thread here and we will message you. Thanks! -Benny

www.explorerforum.com

Peter

 

[mountaineer2004]

Unless you have too much time on your hands, always get the best parts the first time.

For alternators, that means Ford reman, or Bosch new (if available for your year).

 

[Kevin Varnes]

Unless you have too much time on your hands, always get the best parts the first time.

For alternators, that means Ford reman, or Bosch new (if available for your year).

Sound advice indeed, however sometimes a guy just wants his car fixed as quickly as possible. In that case I work with what I have to get their car back on the road. I've had good luck with NAPA alternators in the past so I saw no reason why this would be any different.

As an update, I did install the new Motorcraft alternator (GL8665) last night for him and the voltage was rock steady at 14.5 engine running. I was worried that it might be a reman from Motorcraft, but it did turn out to be a brand new unit (made in Japan). I still don't know why they have a core charge on a new part, but then again I don't understand why junkyards charge for cores either.

Hopefully I don't have to do that job again any time soon. All of the Christmas tree connectors to hold the wiring harnesses in place have just about had it at this point. I don't know why, but that top alternator mount stud that you have to remove to get the unit out always gives me trouble going back in. I fought with that for a good 30 minutes this time.

 

[peterk9]

This was what a member received from a company rep regarding why only Ford alternators should be used.

Peter

 

[MAS Tequila]

So, could an aftermarket alternator cause the system to through trouble codes?

Since mine was changed, I get low oil pressure, and coolant over temp alarms for about half a second then they go away.

But not together.

 

[J L W]

After reading entire thread , I guess I can toss idea of an aftermarket HO alternator for booming audio system ? 220A Factory alternator w/ XS Power D4800 battery upfront and D3100 + SB630-34 Ultracapacitor better be enuff ! Worried that Factory alternator will be overworked trying to supply 199 Ah and 600F Capacitor ?

 

[J L W]

After reading entire thread , I guess I can toss idea of an aftermarket HO alternator for booming audio system ? 220A Factory alternator w/ XS Power D4800 battery upfront and D3100 + SB630-34 Ultracapacitor better be enuff ! Worried that Factory alternator will be overworked trying to supply 199 Ah and 600F Capacitor ?

Oh sorry, that's for '21 Explorer King Ranch Wanted only 3K watts rms

 

[Steve8316]

Worried that Factory alternator will be overworked trying to supply 199 Ah and 600F Capacitor ?

A capacitor doesn't use any "supply"; it's more like a battery - it DOES the supplying.

 

[Vatremere]

Working on a 2014 PIU 3.5 EcoBoost for a friend at work. Original alternator failed August 2023. Got a lifetime warranty (more on that later) alternator from NAPA. I've always had decent luck with their parts. Put it in and it was good....until about a week ago. It felt like the rear bearing was very loose and it was not charging. Pulled it out and swapped it for a new one at NAPA. Installed the new one. It was charging, but the voltage output was jumping all over the place. It was bad enough that the lights would pulse dim-bright-dim-bright. No charging system error on the dash, but it obviously wasn't right. I went to take it back to NAPA to get another one tonight. Guy says he can't authorize a second replacement without talking to a manger (of course none were working then). Then he goes into some diatribe about being promised a raise after 6 weeks and he had been there for 90 days and nothing. Wasn't sure how that was germane to our conversation, but whatever.

Not sure what the point of a lifetime warranty is if it really isn't. I told the owner of the car it would be best to just cut our losses with the NAPA part and get a new Motorcraft alternator. What a pain. Good news is I can get an alternator out of an EcoBoost Explorer in about 20 minutes now. Funny thing is the new Motorcraft is cheaper on RockAuto than the reman part from NAPA. I usually stick to parts store parts for these kinds of things because it is usually easier/faster to warranty them out when they do fail, but I guess I'll have to reconsider that logic in the future.

I had mine replaced last month and the mechanic insisted on OEM only due to this happening often with aftermarket.

 

[peterk9]

I had mine replaced last month and the mechanic insisted on OEM only due to this happening often with aftermarket.

Welcome to the Forum.
It has been mentioned several times that the 5th Explorer's alternator should only be replaced with an OEM unit. Many members using aftermarket ones have had issues. There was also an article explaining why to use OEM only, but I am unable to find it.

Peter

 

[Turdle]

A capacitor doesn't use any "supply"; it's more like a battery - it DOES the supplying.

True, after it is supplied. Can't get it out of ya don't put it in.

 

[Steve8316]

True, after it is supplied. Can't get it out of ya don't put it in.

Yeah, but it doesn't consume any power; it just absorbs & releases it, like a spring. It happens so fast that you can't measure it without a special meter connected properly. It's totally transparent, and has no effect on alternator operation or longevity, which was the concern I was addressing.