Need Alternator???
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Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
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Dude…you guys are not going to believe this story!!!!!
So, still driving the truck with the noise since it's a bearing noise with no charging problems; everything going fine. Get out of the truck at the grocery store the other day and I hear just this god awful noise coming from somewhere sounding like something was about to blow up. I thought it was the car that had just pulled in next to me. As I walk around the front of the truck to listen to her car, I'm stopped in my tracks…the noise is coming from my truck! I leave it running and open the hood. Lo and behold, the alternator pulley is wobbly sooooo bad, I don't believe my eyes and don't believe the friggin serpentine belt is even staying on the pulley. It was that bad. Sounded like it was going to grenade at any second.
I decided that I've got nothing to loose getting stranded, so I'm gonna make a go for the house. So, that's what I did. Fast forward to the house, I can't wait for the wife to hear this so she doesn't think I'm buying a new alternator just to spend money! Well, wouldn't ya know it…By the time I get home the noise is completely gone and the pulley is running a true as she can. Two days later, still running fine; no wobbling shaft, no horrible noises at all.
But wait, here's the real kicker in this story…The grinding funny noise that started this whole thing a few weeks ago??? You guessed it…now even that noise is completely gone!!!!!
W-T-F???
So, still driving the truck with the noise since it's a bearing noise with no charging problems; everything going fine. Get out of the truck at the grocery store the other day and I hear just this god awful noise coming from somewhere sounding like something was about to blow up. I thought it was the car that had just pulled in next to me. As I walk around the front of the truck to listen to her car, I'm stopped in my tracks…the noise is coming from my truck! I leave it running and open the hood. Lo and behold, the alternator pulley is wobbly sooooo bad, I don't believe my eyes and don't believe the friggin serpentine belt is even staying on the pulley. It was that bad. Sounded like it was going to grenade at any second.
I decided that I've got nothing to loose getting stranded, so I'm gonna make a go for the house. So, that's what I did. Fast forward to the house, I can't wait for the wife to hear this so she doesn't think I'm buying a new alternator just to spend money! Well, wouldn't ya know it…By the time I get home the noise is completely gone and the pulley is running a true as she can. Two days later, still running fine; no wobbling shaft, no horrible noises at all.
But wait, here's the real kicker in this story…The grinding funny noise that started this whole thing a few weeks ago??? You guessed it…now even that noise is completely gone!!!!!
W-T-F???
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 2
From: So. Cal.
Dude…you guys are not going to believe this story!!!!!
So, still driving the truck with the noise since it's a bearing noise with no charging problems; everything going fine. Get out of the truck at the grocery store the other day and I hear just this god awful noise coming from somewhere sounding like something was about to blow up. I thought it was the car that had just pulled in next to me. As I walk around the front of the truck to listen to her car, I'm stopped in my tracks…the noise is coming from my truck! I leave it running and open the hood. Lo and behold, the alternator pulley is wobbly sooooo bad, I don't believe my eyes and don't believe the friggin serpentine belt is even staying on the pulley. It was that bad. Sounded like it was going to grenade at any second.
I decided that I've got nothing to loose getting stranded, so I'm gonna make a go for the house. So, that's what I did. Fast forward to the house, I can't wait for the wife to hear this so she doesn't think I'm buying a new alternator just to spend money! Well, wouldn't ya know it…By the time I get home the noise is completely gone and the pulley is running a true as she can. Two days later, still running fine; no wobbling shaft, no horrible noises at all.
But wait, here's the real kicker in this story…The grinding funny noise that started this whole thing a few weeks ago??? You guessed it…now even that noise is completely gone!!!!!
W-T-F???
So, still driving the truck with the noise since it's a bearing noise with no charging problems; everything going fine. Get out of the truck at the grocery store the other day and I hear just this god awful noise coming from somewhere sounding like something was about to blow up. I thought it was the car that had just pulled in next to me. As I walk around the front of the truck to listen to her car, I'm stopped in my tracks…the noise is coming from my truck! I leave it running and open the hood. Lo and behold, the alternator pulley is wobbly sooooo bad, I don't believe my eyes and don't believe the friggin serpentine belt is even staying on the pulley. It was that bad. Sounded like it was going to grenade at any second.
I decided that I've got nothing to loose getting stranded, so I'm gonna make a go for the house. So, that's what I did. Fast forward to the house, I can't wait for the wife to hear this so she doesn't think I'm buying a new alternator just to spend money! Well, wouldn't ya know it…By the time I get home the noise is completely gone and the pulley is running a true as she can. Two days later, still running fine; no wobbling shaft, no horrible noises at all.
But wait, here's the real kicker in this story…The grinding funny noise that started this whole thing a few weeks ago??? You guessed it…now even that noise is completely gone!!!!!
W-T-F???
And you were gonna pull a fast one on your wife and then spend that money on beer.... outsmarted by an alternator! What's this world comin' to??? 
Oh, by the way, Jethat says there's still hope.
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Senior Member
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Code...I swear on my truck that's a true and factual story!! Extreme, I know...but you shoulda been there. I still can't believe I made it back to the house without throwing the belt; it was visually wobbling that bad. Now...nothin!
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
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Yep, sure did. But I knew it would also. Finally went out yesterday. It didn't come apart or anything, but the grenade noise and wobblying came back full time. Went four more days though without a bit of noise; craziest thing ever.
Ended up getting a Ultima Select from O'Reillys today…brand new and lifetime warranty. Oh well, it's just an alternator!
Ended up getting a Ultima Select from O'Reillys today…brand new and lifetime warranty. Oh well, it's just an alternator!
Last edited by Galaxy; Jul 5, 2012 at 08:44 PM.
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 25,641
Likes: 19
From: MI
If i were you i would go on ahead a do the 3g upgrade. I went to the salvage yard and got a 3g alternator from a 1996 Taurus and i am getting it rebuilt to a 200 amp for 105 dollars and it bolts right up. But when you do that you need to install a bigger power wire from the alternator to the starter sylonid and you have to do a little bit of grinding to the alternator bracket for it to fit.You should at least use 0 gauge with a 200 amp fuse-able link. You can get the power wire already made from pa performance.com. I will give y'all the link.The reason i am doing this is because i cant run my ac on full blast and have my headligts on at night. I did the 3g upgrade to my mustang and paid 300 dollars for the alternator if i had know that i could have got it done like this i would have save 150 dollars but lesson learned lol.
Hell, if the power goes out in the house, -fire up the truck.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,068
Likes: 2
From: So. Cal.
