Mark all the plugs before you take them off with tape. Not all plug in's on other alternators are located in the same place.

'Remanufactured alternator' is shorthand for 'we didn't replace the front bearing and you'll be sitting on the side of road wishing we did'.

What's the warranty on options 2 and 3?

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
What's the warranty on options 2 and 3?

Warranties for #2 and #3 are the same, something less than lifetime.

Based on what everyone is saying in this thread, it sounds like I should buy a new one from Ford. BUT if that new Genuine Ford alternator is from China it's gonna be a no-go, unless it's obviously a superior unit after holding in my hand. I've compared other new autoparts from different "manufacturers", and some are better than others, and that doesn't always match with the price.

Ok I'm gonna call Ford tomorrow and see if they can get one I can examine before I purchase, as long as price is reasonable. I just don't know if a new Ford alter made in China would be better than a new one from the local auto parts store.

I should also check with a professional auto mechanic I use and trust. He uses mostly the upper quality line of NAPA parts. He could probably give me the scoop on alternators - Auto store vs Dealer vs NAPA, or something else.

More thoughts are appreciated if any can be had. Thanks guys.

I would go with 3 if you can afford the extra cost and plan to keep the vehicle a while. If you are doing the work yourself you will save on labor, buy a new or better part and likely still be cheaper than paying someone else to do the work.

Yes. Mechanic will charge 400 to replace alternator. I can bolt it in myself in an hour plus, and I'm slow under the hood. But the truck itself is only an around town car, it's too old to take much distance. My daughter takes chances with it sometimes going out of state, but she knows it's a risk and I won't be coming in on my horse.

Pull it apart and check the brushes. Most of the time that’s what fails and is a consumable part or the alternator. Kind of like brake pads

Don’t know which alternator it has but You can get the brushes in the holder for 3g alternator for about $25 would also suggest changing the voltage regulator while you have it apart that’s another $40 or $50

Find a video and pull the regulator and check the rotor and stator with a multimeter if they are good and the bearings turn smooth then change the brushes and regulator and be done with it for under a $100

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
Yes. Mechanic will charge 400 to replace alternator.

Holy Hell Batman! I replaced the alternator in my F150 last year myself and never imagined I was saving anywhere near that much coin.

I'm lucky in that we have a great locally owned shop that rebuilds alternators in house and does great work. They saved me some money on my replacement and its been terrific over the last year. I think option #2 is viable if you have a great local shop to deal with, if not, than #3 is probably your best option.

quote:

Originally posted by sig226fan:
I am with the group on this one. Go new OEM if you can find it. I have used remanufactured and they seem to always go bad within a year or so. I usually have goods luck buying from Rockauto.com.

Another vote for Rock Auto. Also, check their windshield wiper prices vs Advance Auto or whomever.

Well I took your guys advice and got a new alternator instead of rebuilt unit. Ford doesn't have any new alternators and said they can no longer get new ones them for that truck because they're not being made, but their remanufactured alternators from china and are just under $400. So I went with a house brand at Advance Auto recommended by a trusted mechanic that I use that he uses himself in shop. The counter man brought out both a reman and new one, and I compared them. The new one was nice of course but the windings on the reman were original windings, I guess that's standard for reman alternators, and they had been slathered in some type of polymer sealer after some type of cursory cleaning. So for the extra $40 I bought the new one. I guess they call that "potted" electronics, but I noticed that the new alternator windings were not potted, so I went with the new one.

I asked if this new alternator was built in the USA and he said yes. So for $200 I was happy that I got a new alternator built in the USA. Well after I installed it, I saw a sticker "Made in China". The counter man at Advance auto made a mistake about the country of origin, but the alternator is quiet and is putting out 14.4 volts or something at idle so I'm good with that.

Now here's a thing: Because I bought a new one, I didn't pay a core charge for the old one. I think Advance will give me $10 bucks for the old one, so I was thinking... What if I took the old one apart to see if I could rebuilt it myself (including new bearings). I would want to do the whole thing the same way an alternator rebuild man would do. But I don't know if those parts are easy to come by or if I would need any special tools. I don't THINK I would need any special presses or tooling, but I don't really now.

The reason would just be for the experience of learning how to do it, and I'd have a spare one using an original Ford alternator case, in case the wuflu alternator died. On the other hand if those parts or rebuild kit are real money, then I'd just forget about it and sell my old original Ford alternator to Advance auto for a measely $10.00 bucks.

What do you guys think about that idea ?

quote:

Originally posted by wrightd:
... so I was thinking... What if I took the old one apart to see if I could rebuilt it myself (including new bearings). I would want to do the whole thing the same way an alternator rebuild man would do. But I don't know if those parts are easy to come by or if I would need any special tools. I don't THINK I would need any special presses or tooling, but I don't really now.

The reason would just be for the experience of learning how to do it, and I'd have a spare one using an original Ford alternator case...

What do you guys think about that idea ?

I would go ahead and give it a try.
What year is your Ranger, I don't think I caught that in your previous posts.
Earlier models would have an external voltage regulator and later have an internal one.

For externally regulated ones, I would pick up a set of brushes, rectifier bridge, and front & rear bearings.
I'd also pick up a spare voltage regulator.

These are not difficult to service, and as long as the stator and rotor windings are not faulty, should be pretty cheap to refurbish.

Even if you have an internal regulator, it would only add replacing it while the alternator is apart.

The only thing left would be three diodes. Simple to swap out while everything else is removed.

Just for the point of discussion, there is another alternative.

You could get an alternator from a salvage yard.

There are "pull apart" type salvage yards, you could look around and find a totaled out vehicle, possibly see the odometer mileage, and pull it yourself.

You may or may not get a good one, but if it was running when totaled out, you might get a good one, probably so.

I like the idea of getting your old one apart and taking a good look at it, and seeing if you could replace internals. You might not ever use it, but you'd learn something in the process.

Best wishes to you.
.

30 yrs ago all we drove were used GM cars with the 3.8 litre V6. Bought them at 50k miles and drove til 125-30k. Always bought alternators from the salvage yard. $25 and 20 min to put it in. Dont think I ever replaced one more than once in the same car.