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Bad Alternator

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Old Oct 18, 2014 | 08:39 PM
  #1  
hmustang's Avatar
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Joined: May 1999
Posts: 3,188
Likes: 3
From: Kansas side of the greater KC area
Unhappy Bad Alternator

Well driving into work this afternoon I noticed the voltage gauge showing lower than normal and dropping. I knew I wasn't going to make it to work also knew it was my alternator that quit on me. managed to get off the interstate near the mall I go by on my way to work and just barely made it into a Pep boys parking lot before it died on me. So called out and replaced the alternator and belt since they both were original to the truck and had 167k miles on them.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2014 | 09:47 AM
  #2  
mjb1032's Avatar
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 215
Likes: 1
From: Easton, MA
Same thing happened to me in my '04 (140K).
Dismal, rainy day, (had lights, wipers, defrost, radio, etc on) noticed my wipers were moving abnormally slow.
I looked down and noticed my dash volt meter was heading south...
I shut everything off to buy some time (still had about 10 miles to home).
...couldn't make it, gauge heading to 0, I managed to make it to a garage.
Thankfully they threw a charge on my battery so I could get home,
I offered some money, & they wouldn't take it! (Thank You!)

I went to NAPA the next day, a load test showed the alt had quit.
I sprang for their "better" quality one (w/ lifetime warranty) $239 vs. $209.
(IMO, the $30 is worth the peace of mind).

I replaced it (super easy), returned the core, ...DONE.
All is fine now.
Glad you were able to get it fixed.
 
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Old Oct 19, 2014 | 03:21 PM
  #3  
baticus's Avatar
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Joined: May 2005
Posts: 777
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From: Lethbridge, Alberta
Not too long ago I had mine go 3 hours from home. All the sudden I lost all gauges, switches, but it kept running. I noticed on my cts that I had been charging at 10v. Made it another 5 minutes until the batt completely died. Got a ride to the nearest town, bought a new alternator and installed it. I have since been through 2 more. The first replacement under charged intermittently, the second would spike to 16 volts, and the third has been good. Bad run of alternators I guess.
 
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