Helpful alternator info

[malohnes]

Howdy folks, Happy New Year!

I had a my 160 amp alternator crap out during a cold spell of single digits temps and blizzards snow conditions and found some useful info that some of you guys might find useful, that helped repair my problem.

First, the scoop: The night before, the last time I drove my truck, the stock amp gauge in the truck was working and showed the alternator was charging. My volt gauge showed 14.4v to confirm. In the morning, I am heading out for work and my truck turns over just fine, and is idling away warming up, but I noticed the charging lamp on the dash is illuminated and I show 12v and no charging on the stock amp gauge...wtf?!

I popped the hood and a took a voltmeter to double check the voltages and yes, the alternator was dead. Shutting off the engine, I test for voltage with a test light at my connections first, the heavy gauge wire on the post of the alternator, battery post and lock for any obvious signs of arching or other anomalies. Discouraged that my 1 year old alternator crapped out, I hit the internet to look for some clues before I spend money I don't got. I checked here first and didn't find anything useful very fast. I then recalled I had bought some parts some time back from alternatorparts.com and bookmarked the link. The links are below. The company supports all sorts of alternators and I can replace nearly everything in them, pretty easily. Further, as it turns out, the fella has some very useful Youtube videos showing how to replace the various components and what makes them work. There was even a video with a 4.0L Ranger in there!

Anyway, after watching a bunch of the videos and feeling confident, I decided to pull the alternator and crack the case and take a look see. Turned out I had a stuck brush that was ****ed in the holder and didn't make contact with the slip ring anymore. There was evidence of arching and mild scorching. I hit the slip rings with some very fine sandpaper and cleaned up the groove in the brush, reassembled and installed and viola! Good as new!!!

Hope this helps...

Here are the links:

http://alternatorparts.com/Ford_3G.htm

http://www.youtube.com/alternatorman

 

[RangerX]

Nice! Gotta love it when you can fix it yourself, and for free!

 

[Bruces expo]

Is your HO Alt a Certain Name Brand by chance , I'm into car audio and see a lot of brands out there with very high outputs , Have you ever Heard Of Iraggi Alternators ? .

 

[malohnes]

Yeah, it is very rewarding, especially when you can throw a never ending amount of money at your hobby!!!!

My alternator is a Napa Gold rebuilt unit. I have not heard of Iraggi.

I have 2 2Fd peaking caps for the amp and that handles all my power needs beyond the bigger alt for my car audio.

 

[Bruces expo]

Nice , Wasn't sure if it was a certain brand or not as I have been looking into them and doing homework on them .

 

[malohnes]

I've looked at Mean Green brand Alternators, but frankly, all the high output alternators I looked at seemed to be really over priced. I just can't see the need to go that route when I can upgrade my own to 200 amps, which would serve me plenty even if I have on-board air and other electrical doodads.

Not having A/C means I have the space for a second alternator if I wanted to. Don't know if there are alternators that are over 400 amps?! Imagine the horsepower it takes to turn one of those!