Alternator
My battery light keeps showing up, I'm aware that its my alternator that needs replacing but regarding labour prices, I'm being charged two arms and a leg, I know it doesn't take a lot to fit an alternator in as I've worked with mechanics before but don't have the tool to do it myself, what's your advice?
My car has 91000 miles.
My car has a manual transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The alternator on this car is computer controlled and should have the computer tested and scanned to see if the computer or the alternator is at fault. The alternator if found to be at fault may need to be replaced with a Ford certified replacement since some aftermarket rebuilds will not work when installed.
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Performance. The Ford OEM alternator is rated at 130 amps with 80 amps at idle.
You should show 13.5 volts at idle.
The average cost for a Ford Focus Alternator Replacement is between $453 and $538. Labor costs are estimated between $94 and $119 while parts are priced between $359 and $419.
You should have a stamp on the alternator with a part number and amperage. The part number that starts with F3UZ is the 130 amp, and the F1TZ is the 95 amp.
If you`ve got a basic, stock vehicle, chances are you don`t need a high-output alternator. Most factory alternators are rated at 65 to 100 amps and are capable of handling your vehicle`s basic necessities, such as headlights, gauges, fuel pumps, A/C, etc.
If the voltmeter reads between 14-15 volts then the battery is normal. But if the battery reads over 15 volts or less than 13 volts, then there might be a problem with the alternator.
A good alternator should maintain battery voltage between 13.9 and 14.8 volts (14.2 is optimum). Even worst-case, with all accessories turned on, there should be at least 13 volts at the battery.
Why cheap alternators are the wrong choice. Aftermarket alternators are sold as less expensive OEM replacements, but they aren`t always good replacements because they are not identical to the OEM unit. Buyers are often unable to spot the differences in quality, unless they inform themselves.
In general, you can expect alternators to last about 6-10 years, or about 80,000-150,000 miles.
One 3G alternator configuration meeting this requirement was originally installed on 19941995 Mustang V8s, 19941997 Thunderbird/Cougar XR7 3.8L V6s, and 19942000 Mustang 3.8L V6s.
The amp rating of the alternator is matched to the vehicle`s electrical system. Older vehicles with fewer accessories may only need a 70- or 80-amp alternator, while a newer vehicle with lots of electronics and accessories may need a 120- to 160-amp alternator.
The Ford 3G alternators utilize an internal voltage regulator and output 150 or 225-amps depending upon part number. They are available in a wide range of finishes including chrome plated, polished aluminum, stealth black, powder coated colors and Factory Cast PLUS+ finishes.
Better Battery Life
That`s because an oversized alternator produces more output at lower speeds, including idle. That increased output prevents the battery from having to help supply the load—and this keeps it at a more ideal state of charge. The battery cycles less, which translates into better battery life.
The battery terminal charging voltage must be less than 14.7 volts to prevent excessive gassing. Charging voltages over 14.7 volts can prematurely dry the battery by boiling out electrolyte, and increase risk of a battery hydrogen gas explosion.
If your battery has a charge between 12.4V and 12.7V, your battery is fully charged and ready to run. If your voltage is below 12.2V, it needs to be recharged. Take a 30-minute drive on the highway or pick up a charger to bring the voltage back up. If your voltage is higher than 12.9V, the battery is overcharged.
Typically, alternators have their full output rated at 6000 RPM but can continue to spin up to 12,000 RPM or more without any additional increase in output. The speed of an alternator is different for different type of car.
An alternator has a normal range of operation. Most alternators need to spin at about 2,400 rpm at idle, have their maximum output above 6,000 rpm, and should never exceed 18,000 rpm.
At 12.4 volts the battery is considered 75% charged and can still ignite your engine. When the battery voltage lowers to 12.2 volts without the engine running, it is considered a bad battery that may start your engine but is no longer capable of holding a charge.
Because of this, the multimeter should read between 13.8 and 14.5 volts when the engine is at idle. If it falls outside of this range, get your alternator checked.
Fully-charged, most car batteries will measure at least 12.6 volts (~13.0-13.2V for OPTIMA YELLOWTOPs), but low voltage doesn`t necessarily equal a bad battery. Modern cars are very demanding from an electrical perspective, even when they`re not being used.
You will never go wrong with a Denso part! Old one lasted 18 years and 273,000 miles! I didn`t test it before installing like someone recommended. I wanted to go with original oem alternator which was Denso because it lasted 18 years and 273000 miles.
Should I Get a New or Remanufactured or Rebuilt Alternator? This is an often-asked question. Alternators are one of the few automotive parts that can be reused with reconditioning safely. Depending on your situation, there may be reasons to consider any of the three options.
How Long Does an Alternator Last? Alternators have an impressive lifespan of seven years–or between 80,000 to 150,000 miles.
While you can technically still drive with a bad alternator, it is not advised. This is especially true in newer vehicle models. This is because there is more electricity involved compared to an older model.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
How much oil needs to leak into an Alternator to cause the Alternator to go bad
ANSWER : It would be difficult to say exactly how much oil it would take to cause the alternator to fail. However, oil leaking on the alternator due to leaking valve cover gaskets can cause it to fail. It seems as if the technician who is servicing your vehicle may not have performed a courtesy inspection to check for other potential issues prior to starting the other repairs you had requested. I would recommend having the alternator replaced if it has oil leaking on it as well as resolving the valve cover gasket leak to prevent it from happening again. You may try to use a different mechanic who is more upfront and honest in the first place. Consider YourMechanic as services such as this can be completed from your home or office.
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Alternator belt or whole new alternator?
ANSWER : Hi There,
If the diagnosis was that the battery is being overcharged, you may have a faulty voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to supply too much amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
If the diagnosis was that the battery is being overcharged, you may have a faulty voltage regulator that could be allowing the alternator to supply too much amperage to the battery resulting in the battery never maintaining a consistent charge as it is designed to. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. A common sign of this is usually the acid inside the battery boiling causing the battery to swell. You may also smell a bit of smoke due to things potentially getting too hot. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
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my battery kept draining until i bought a new alternator and battery. i have tightened the belt on the alternator but it still die
ANSWER : Hi there. The best way to diagnose why a battery would constantly drain is to review it’s job and how it is recharged. The battery is responsible for powering all electrical systems until the vehicle is started. At this point, the alternator takes over and also continually charges the battery while the vehicle is in use. A battery will drain when one of two things occurs. First, a battery will drain if it is constantly in use; supplying power to an electrical component even if the key is not in the ignition. Second, the battery will eventually die if the battery is not being charged frequently. However, since this is happening every two days, my initial thought would be that some electrical component on your 86 Olds is continuing to draw power from the battery. This is known as a parasitic drain. The best way to determine the source of this battery issue is to have one of our professional mobile mechanics come to your location and complete a battery will not hold a charge inspection.
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I can’t find the right alternator for my Mercedes-Benz. 2003 Mercedes SL500
ANSWER : Hello – any of the MB parts sites selling a "12v, 150 amp" alternator that fits your SL500 is selling the correct specification alternator. Your cars electrical system is nominally 12 volts. The voltage regulator within the alternator allows the alternator to charge at up to 14 volts in order to bring the battery back up to at least 12 volts. While cranking for example, system voltage can drop to 10 volts or so. The difference in "system voltage vs charging voltage" is a bit confusing, but hopefully, this has helped your understanding. If not, shoot any other questions our way.
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Bmw alternator question
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. You will want to go with what they call an "OEM" (original equipment manufacture) part. This just means that the company which is producing the part uses the manufacture’s design, and it should be the exact type (or upgraded version of) the exact alternator that came with the car. There are going to be a wide variety of alternators that will work for you car, but an OEM part will assure the mounts fit and the power ratings are equivalent. While we can not advise you on the exact part or company to purchase it from, a search with the letters "OEM" should bring up what you are looking for. When purchasing a part, typically it is best to go with a middle priced replacement unless going to upgrades (say you power a lot of electronics or sound systems). For more help replacing the alternator, contact our service department.
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Battery good, alternator good, brand new alternator cable, still not charging.
ANSWER : Hi There,
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
The first diagnosis of the bad voltage regulator is likely the cause of your charging system not properly charging the battery. When the voltage regulator is not working properly, this may result in the alternator allowing too much power to be delivered to the battery resulting in damaging wires and prematurely sometimes destroying the battery. In other cases it may result in the alternator not supplying enough power to the battery, resulting in undercharging the battery or not charging it at all. In some cases when a battery is too weak or damaged, it may no longer hold a charge for any length of time, in which case the alternator may be doing its job, but the battery is just simply too weak to hold a charge. In either case, I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose your vehicle’s charging system.
Read Full Q/A … : Alternator
I am trying to remove the alternator, but I need to free up more space.
ANSWER : Hi there. As a former Lexus master technician, this was one of the jobs that seemed like the engineers weren’t in their right minds when designing it. We had to loosen the core support that holds the radiator, support it away from the alternator, and then pull the alternator out without letting it slip; if it falls and hits the radiator, you will have a leak.
I strongly suggest acquiring a qualified technician for this one. One of YourMechanic’s certified technicians can assist you with an alternator replacement, and will make sure the job is done smoothly and properly.
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Alternator dead short when power applied.
ANSWER : Firstly, with the battery disconnected you will have continuity between the positive cable to the ground of the body or engine if you have any components hooked up or have fuses in. You are getting a complete circuit through some of these components. You will need to check to make sure all of the wiring on your power side is not touching ground before going through the components.
Disconnect the big main cable to the alternator and see if the short goes away. If it does, then use your meter to measure the ohms between the alternator post and the alternator case. You should have continuity in one direction and if you switch leads you’ll have no continuity. This will tell you the diodes are good or shorted in the alternator. If you have continuity in both directions then the large post is grounded or the internal diodes are bad.
If you can’t get it to work and you decide to get this fixed, consider contacting a certified mechanic who can diagnose your electrical issues firsthand and fix it accordingly.
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