Jobert
Active Member
- Joined
- August 25, 2015
- Messages
- 64
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- New Jersey
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Explorer XLT V8
My 2002 Explorer 4.6 V8 alternator is suddenly not putting anything out. It's apparently been this way for about a month or so but hasn't been a problem since I have been keeping the battery charged since I found the problem and don't use it at night, etc. I have other transportation available.
My question is: Should I be checking anything before I just go out and buy a new alternator?
I'm very much mechanically inclined and if you check my relatively few posts you'll see that I purchased this ride last August with a spark plug blown out (and a prior helicoil repair that didn't hold) which I repaired shortly thereafter and which has been fine ever since (knock wood). So any suggestions on testing the alternator would be welcomed and much appreciated.
I did search the forum but didn't find anything helpful so far, so I figured maybe I should just ask.
Edit (update): Well, since I posted, I saw some "similar threads" with suggestions, so I'm checking those out. Also, I have to check but I think that my charging gauge is indicating that the battery is charging. I actually never really checked it but I live in NJ and it's been quite cold at times so I warm it up well before driving it and check the oil pressure in particular when I first start it. I believe the alt gauge is right next to the oil pressure and I think it shows it charging. I'll check and update accordingly. Also, I don't think I have a warning light if it's not charging, but if I do that has never come on. But I know it's not charging because I check the battery terminals for voltage when it's running and only get 11.5 volts, if that. Plus I only found out about the problem when the battery was too dead to crank it one morning. And it got so low that my trip odometer reset to zero.
My question is: Should I be checking anything before I just go out and buy a new alternator?
I'm very much mechanically inclined and if you check my relatively few posts you'll see that I purchased this ride last August with a spark plug blown out (and a prior helicoil repair that didn't hold) which I repaired shortly thereafter and which has been fine ever since (knock wood). So any suggestions on testing the alternator would be welcomed and much appreciated.
I did search the forum but didn't find anything helpful so far, so I figured maybe I should just ask.
Edit (update): Well, since I posted, I saw some "similar threads" with suggestions, so I'm checking those out. Also, I have to check but I think that my charging gauge is indicating that the battery is charging. I actually never really checked it but I live in NJ and it's been quite cold at times so I warm it up well before driving it and check the oil pressure in particular when I first start it. I believe the alt gauge is right next to the oil pressure and I think it shows it charging. I'll check and update accordingly. Also, I don't think I have a warning light if it's not charging, but if I do that has never come on. But I know it's not charging because I check the battery terminals for voltage when it's running and only get 11.5 volts, if that. Plus I only found out about the problem when the battery was too dead to crank it one morning. And it got so low that my trip odometer reset to zero.