Murphy's law strikes again, or Karma. Whatever, but my truck went kaput at a gas station tonight. I was driving, then my stereo started acting up, turning itself on and off quickly. It had been resetting itself frequently lately, just thought it was trying to die on me. Went to start, click click click. Nice guy jump started me, then I went straight to nearest parts store for a battery check. It was 830pm so store was closing at 9. Battery checked ok, but alternator was not. Needed jump again, then it quit while idling. Got going, came home and immediately unhooked the battery. It's dark out, but I have a street light and flashlight. Had to let her cool down, and swapped alt out. Now I have 14.6 volts per my gryphon readout when it was fluctuating with rpm earlier on the way home. Guess I lucked out since I had just been out of town late Saturday and could have been stranded on the interstate. I'm guessing my stereo was not getting a good 12 volts all the time; leading to its resetting itself lately.

 

Well, at least the alternator is easy to change on these trucks.

 

Ya real easy. Had to change mine in the parking lot at my gfs college before i went home on Sunday. Got done in about a half hour.

 

Your truck was trying to tell you something was wrong, just need to listen and figure out what it is

 

Yep. I was just attributing stereo acting up to the head unit wanting to die on me. Nothing else seemed wrong.

 

I wonder if you could have just replaced the brushes instead of replacing the whole alternator?

What mileage do the alternators usually need replacing?

 

Mine went at about 120k.

 

Same here

 

What is the recommended replacement? OEM or something else?

 

I got a lifetime Autozone one. I can replace the thing in there parking lot with there tools if I have to. Dont really care how long it lasts.

 

I went from a 90A stock to VatoZone reman 130A for $110 I think

 

Mine is an O'Reilly reman.

 

I think mine was advanced auto. 90 amp. They didn't have the 130 in stock. Wish they did but knew i wouldn't make the 4 hour trip back on my crap alternator

 

127k on mine. My 3yr 7 1/2 month temporary contract job in Homestead, FL ends tomorrow and I'll be driving 800 miles to home this weekend with a loaded truck and trailer. I hope it lasts long enough to get me home. I'm retiring! I'm 69yrs old! I'll remove the alternator and see if I can change out the brushes after getting home and see if it will last another 127k.

 

It was an emergency replacement. Got the 130 amp reman.