I searched for a good Alternator swap out thread but suprisingly it wasn't coming up with anything. My wife took my truck and drove 120 mile on dry pavement in 4wheel low. The only thing broke right now is a fried alternator.


Does this sound right for a 2004 5.4 3valve?
1
Step 1. Always disconnect the negative terminal of the battery ...ALWAYS!!!!

2
Remove the alternator drive belt. To do this, you need to locate the tension pulley. It has a spot where it allows you to use just the drive part of your ratchet. Insert and push to release tension and remove the belt.

3
Next, remove the alternator harness clip. You will need to pry this off.

4
Now remove the (4) support bracket bolts and remove the bracket.

5
It's time to remove the alternator B+ terminal nut and disconnect the battery cable from the B+ terminal. Then disconnect the electrical connector from the alternator.

6
Remove the (2) lower alternator mounting bolts and now remove the alternator.

7
Installation is the reverse of these steps. Good luck and refer to a manual when needed.

 

Yea, those instructions will do

It's easy and explanatory, when you actually start doing it.

 

That must have been one heck of conversation when she got back....

Wife: "Honey, why can't your truck go above 50 mph on the hwy?"
You: "What are you talking about?"
Wife: "Well, I tried to get it to go faster, but the one gauge was all the way over past the '6' and the other was only saying I was going 50 mph..."
You: "WTF are you talking about???"
Wife: "It's your truck..... I don't know about these things...."
You: "ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!"

Just busting your ***** some on it!! I couldn't let that statement go without saying something...

Now, I don't feel so bad about running mine in 4lo to backup my TT into it's parking spot and running a little bit of it on pavement (about 10 feet) ..

Mitch

 

-Would of been a better story if she did all this stuck in reverse.

 

Can't imagine the chatter around the corners wouldn't inspire some concern.(?) My ex once blew a radiator hose, drove on and cooked the motor beyond repair, so an alternator is easy pickings if that's all it is.

 

I rarely let my wife drive my truck but I do ALLOW her to drive it on snow days (very reluctantly) She has never once in the 10 years I've owned it driven my Mach I.
I could see her doing something like that.
I once restored a Camaro for my wife new engine had it painted and all it was just a 6 cylinder coupe but it was really nice when i was done. 2 months after it was done she high centered the car on an island. Took out the oil pan...

 

Haha my friends daughter did the same thing. Drove her car in "power gear" or "power mode", something like that. Turns out she was driving around in 4HI. Well her dad works on cars, so she brings it to his attention that the car has been making funny noises and doesn't drive well anymore. He started it up, sounded ok, he asks her whats wrong and she said after she used said power mode things started to break, but it was a factory feature, so it must be ok to use. Her dad told her she should call a cab from now on to drive her places

 

you shouldnt need to "pry off" the electrical connector. Take your time and dont damage the locks on the connector

 

Right, the connector w/single white wire/blk stripe breaks easy.

 

Thanks everybody. On my way to Napa to get'r done.

The conversation went like this:

me: You didnt take my truck out of 4 low?
her: no, i didnt know.
me: did it feel a little torquey honey? (CIA and a custom tuned gryphon)
her: i didnt notice anything.
me: oh, okay. how fast did you go?
her: 50 maybe 55
me: did you manage to pop any wheelies?
her: no
me: well it drove in (to the camp) it should be fine
me: I guess I will be getting a new super duty this week dear.

I am surprised it didnt blow anything besides the alternator, which is the original with a 137k on it, she just pulled a DR Korvorkian on it. The tires were "singing" for about 60 miles and seemed to wear itself to normal after that.

Good thing it's Ford tough, because Wife's Numb. It could be there new slogan: Ford tough, wife numb!

 

My wife has driven the truck, but usually only when I'm the passenger.. I've offered to let her drive with the trailer so she knows how it feels in case she ever needs to do it, but she said "I'll cross that bridge when I get there, but I'll probably just call your Dad if it came to that, because you either left me or you're dead!"



Mitch