Do I need an alternator or battery?

[Dan66]

Hi folks,

While driving (my '96 XLT 4.0) home this afternoon I noticed my radio turned itself off. Then the A/C blew progressively weaker and weaker. Next thing I knew, all my guages are laying dead and I have no electrical functions at all. Thought I'd make it home alright, but the engine shut down about 6 blocks from home (at a stop sign).

Upon trying to restart it, I got the familiar click-click-click of a dead battery. Sure would be nice if it turned out to be no more than that! Could it be? Or are chances that I need an alternator as well?

At the moment, it's still on the curb a short distance from my home. I assume that even if it needs an alternator, I can put a fresh battery in and it'll drive home, right?

All opinions and advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[schmidlkofer]

i think the alternator....but im sure if you put a fresh battery in it at least you can get it home but it has to be the alternator i had the same problem on my dodge even when i would put my blinker on my truck would almost die....turns out the alternator was only putting out 8ish volts.

 

[Paraphoe]

I'd guess alternator if it's crapping out while driving, but I'm no expert.

 

[schmidlkofer]

just get a battery and alternator the battery i probably shot with it being as run down as it is.

 

[Dan66]

Yep. I'm pretty sure it's gonna be the alternator, myself. Just wanted to bounce it off a few of you guys.

As for replacing it, it looks to be pretty straight-forward: two or three bolts and a couple wires. The only thing I'm not sure about is the belt... How do I loosen it (to remove the alternator), and how to tighten it back to just the right tension?

 

[shamaal]

The alternator charges the battery. If the alternator goes belly up, the car will run off the battery until the battery is disharged. This explains your symptoms.

On other vehicle makes this causes the ammeter idiot light to come on.

However, every once in a while something odd happens like a battery short that screws up everything. You'd think in the latter part of the 20th century they could come up with an on board diagnostic that could tell what the problem was.

My advice: pull the battery and alternator and take it to an auto store (Autozone, O'Reilly, etc.) for testing. It could be a bad alternator or battery, both, or bad cable (unlikely given your symptoms).

Good Luck!

 

[schmidlkofer]

Yep. I'm pretty sure it's gonna be the alternator, myself. Just wanted to bounce it off a few of you guys.

As for replacing it, it looks to be pretty straight-forward: two or three bolts and a couple wires. The only thing I'm not sure about is the belt... How do I loosen it (to remove the alternator), and how to tighten it back to just the right tension?

well im not to sure about the engine set up on your explorer but if the engine is the same as my 94 there is a tension pully on the bottom of the engine that takes a large rachet i think 1/2 inch or 3/4 and you pull it to the left i believe and it will loosten the belt this may take 2 people to do.....some one else may be able to explain this better than i can.

 

[anthonytony]

alternator IMO. far as getting the belt off you need a ratchet for the tensioner pully

 

[KurtAbbott]

I can only speak for how my 1997 5.0L tensioner pulley looks since I don't know if yours is set up similarly. The tensioner pulley on my vehicle is on the passenger side just above a grooved idler pulley. You access the tensioner pulley from below. I used a 15mm ratchet. It is threaded backwards so no worries when you turn it to take the tension off the belt. Once you take the tension off, hold it and with your other hand slide the belt off of the smooth tensioner pulley. Then let the tensioner slowly release. Watch out or it will bite you if you lose your grip since the fan blades are very close to this area. Take your time and you'll be fine.

Once the belt is off there are just three bolts on the alternator to loosen (after disconnecting the battery of course). Pretty easy even for a rookie like me.

If you have a higher mileage vehicle it's not a bad idea to replace the tensioner and the idler pulleys while you're doing this. I replaced the two idler pulleys and the tensioner pulley when I replaced my alternator. Cost for all tree pulleys was $65. The bearings of the pulleys on mine were pretty bad once I got them off and spun them on my finger. I guess I got my moneys worth since they lasted 215,000 miles. I like to think I averted a pulley disaster on the highway somewhere. This isn't necessary to replace them but I wanted the peace of mind. I'm glad I did.

Good luck.

 

[Dan66]

Thanks so much for all the replies everybody. Hopefully I'll get the whole thing taken care of this afternoon...