Alternator Gone Bad?!

[ekrispin]

Hi All,

So i'm driving home last night in my 94 Eddie Bower 4dr 4X4 w/210K and the car had been making some squealing noises for the past few days. I thought the noise was coming from the alternator. Anyhow, on my way home I all of a sudden loose voltage, the gauge went from the High side where the needle usually rests, to close to 8, r the low side. I also lost power steering at the same time, as well as by the time I got it home (about 2-3 miles) it was steaming really bad an spurting coolant.

My questions are, do you think its the alternator (Thats where im leaning) or the regulator, or that 15 amp fuse?

Is the alternator hard to replace, it seems simple, cause its right at the top in the front, but is there anything tricky about it?

And if there are any DIY's you could link me to that would be great!

Thanks Allot,
Eric

 

[Willard]

That is not the alternator, it sounds like you lost the serpentine belt. The squealing you heard was the belt.

The belt drives your alternator, power steering pump, water pump, and A/C pump. Had you been using the A/C, it would have stopped working as well. I would replace the belt, and also the automatic belt tensioner as well. Not hard parts to replace, and shouldn't cost you more than $50 or so. While you are doing it, check out the idler pulley as well.

Don't drive it until it's fixed. Also, once it's fixed, make sure you have enough coolant, and watch it for a couple days to make sure nothing is damaged.

 

[ekrispin]

Ok, cool thanks for the suggestion, it was late last night and I guess i didnt look that closely, I'll go make a closer inspection now. Allot cheaper too

 

[Willard]

Ok, cool thanks for the suggestion, it was late last night and I guess i didnt look that closely, I'll go make a closer inspection now. Allot cheaper too

Yes, much cheaper. And for future reference, when more than one thing driven by the belt goes out, it's definitely a belt problem, and should get fixed ASAP.

 

[ekrispin]

So the belt looks ok, but definitely lost a pulley. The puley that I pulled out w/o any tools just now looks like the one that sites between the alternator, and the power steering pump. The belt loops underneath that pulley?

 

[Willard]

There's the pulley that sits between the alternator, and the A/C compressor, if that's what you're talking about. The A/C compressor sits on the top right of the motor.

Are you saying this is the pulley that you pulled off, or that the pulley looks like this?

Edit: Is the pulley ribbed or smooth?

 

[ekrispin]

Its smooth with a short flange on either side of the smooth part, its the one thats bolted just to the right of the Alternator, It ripped out of its spot, the bolt is sorta sheered. The pulleys ok, but the bearing in it is shot. I think i may have to go to a ford dealership or a junkyard to replace both the bolt and the pulley. neither Schucks, Carquest or napa had the right part.

 

[Willard]

Its smooth with a short flange on either side of the smooth part, its the one thats bolted just to the right of the Alternator, It ripped out of its spot, the bolt is sorta sheered. The pulleys ok, but the bearing in it is shot. I think i may have to go to a ford dealership or a junkyard to replace both the bolt and the pulley. neither Schucks, Carquest or napa had the right part.

Hmm....as far as I know they should have it. I got one at O'Reily's, and I know advance and autozone have them. NAPA should have it, too. Did you ask them for the idler pulley? It may not look exactly the same, but as long as the diameter is the same it should work.

As far as the bolt, that may be different. As I recall, it's a special looking bolt, and you may only be able to get that from the dealer. I would replace your belt, while you're in there, as well.