01 Expy alternator in 04 F150?
01 Expy alternator in 04 F150?
I'm in a bit of a bind and although I think I already know the answer I need to get a second (and third, lol) opinion.
On my way home last night my electrical started going. First the ABS light, then the airbag, then the passenger airbag...eventually the dash dies and my headlights were just barely lighting the road (it was night). Before the gauges went I saw the battery was not charging so I knew the alternator was dying.
Odd thing was that maybe 3 times on the way home as things were failing there was a sound that I can only describe as a piece of metal being drug on the ground. It would last maybe 5 seconds then stop. At one point I stopped the truck and took a quick look under the hood and underneath but couldn't see a cause (any ideas on that one?).
My actual question, other than about the odd noise, is whether a 2001 Expy's alternator would work on my 04 F150. Both are 5.4L. Replacement part numbers are not the same and they don't look the same but the bolt pattern looks right. I don't have the 01 alternator here which is why I'm asking. I'll have to drive to go take it off the Expy but I don't want to do that if there is no way it will work. I just can't afford the $200 for a reman alternator right now.
Thanks in advance.
On my way home last night my electrical started going. First the ABS light, then the airbag, then the passenger airbag...eventually the dash dies and my headlights were just barely lighting the road (it was night). Before the gauges went I saw the battery was not charging so I knew the alternator was dying.
Odd thing was that maybe 3 times on the way home as things were failing there was a sound that I can only describe as a piece of metal being drug on the ground. It would last maybe 5 seconds then stop. At one point I stopped the truck and took a quick look under the hood and underneath but couldn't see a cause (any ideas on that one?).
My actual question, other than about the odd noise, is whether a 2001 Expy's alternator would work on my 04 F150. Both are 5.4L. Replacement part numbers are not the same and they don't look the same but the bolt pattern looks right. I don't have the 01 alternator here which is why I'm asking. I'll have to drive to go take it off the Expy but I don't want to do that if there is no way it will work. I just can't afford the $200 for a reman alternator right now.
Thanks in advance.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: St. Louis (Out in the woods)
Sorry, not interchangeable. The different part numbers confirms that. The 04 is a PCM-controlled alternator, the 01 has a conventional voltage regulator.
If you can carry a fully charged battoery out there, you ought to be able to get 30 miles out of it in the daytime if you conserve electrical power. I once nursed my old Conturd home with a set of jumper cables and my old F150. Every 10 miles, we stopped, hooked the cables up and ran the 5.4 for 20 minutes at 2000 RPM to charge the battery some more. Took a while, but we got it home so I could replace the alternator and properly charge the battery.
If you can carry a fully charged battoery out there, you ought to be able to get 30 miles out of it in the daytime if you conserve electrical power. I once nursed my old Conturd home with a set of jumper cables and my old F150. Every 10 miles, we stopped, hooked the cables up and ran the 5.4 for 20 minutes at 2000 RPM to charge the battery some more. Took a while, but we got it home so I could replace the alternator and properly charge the battery.
Last edited by projectSHO89; Jul 29, 2012 at 08:07 PM.