Ford help plz

bomelia · #1 (**permalink**) 07-18-2010, 11:38 PM

My wife's 2003 Expidition just blew another alternator. Lifetime warranty from advance auto, they gladly swapped it out. I took care to hold the belt in place while I changed it out. Once started, it sounds awfull! Worse belt scream I have ever heard. Could I have missed a pulley? Anybody know what is going on?

Ron61 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:00 AM

Mike,

I am sure that you checked the tension on the belt to be sure it is tight but did you turn the new alternator pulley to see if it turns a little hard? I think that if you had missed a pulley the belt would most likely just either not turn or slide around a lot on all of them.

Ron

Z-linkCobra · #3 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:43 AM

Dont know for sure....but is that an internaly regulated alternator? If its not then you need to check the regulator. If the regulator is stuck wide open or full charge then its gonna cause that problem.

Like Ron61 said...check and make sure it turns freely. Make sure a bearing isnt rough.

When doing serpentine belts the simplest way to route a belt...ribbed side of the belt to ribbed pulley..smooth side to smooth pulley.

bomelia · #4 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:43 AM

I had gone over an idler, instead of under it. Doh! But, the new alternator us not charging either. I have no idea what is wrong. Battery shows fully charged. Starts up fine, then the "check charging system light" comes on

bomelia · #5 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z-linkCobra

Dont know for sure....but is that an internaly regulated alternator? If its not then you need to check the regulator. If the regulator is stuck wide open or full charge then its gonna cause that problem.

Like Ron61 said...check and make sure it turns freely. Make sure a bearing isnt rough.

When doing serpentine belts the simplest way to route a belt...ribbed side of the belt to ribbed pulley..smooth side to smooth pulley.

Where would the regulator be?

Z-linkCobra · #6 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:51 AM

We have an 02 Dodge pickup with a Cummins. I started getting a check gauges light come on. The alternator gauge would peg at 20 volts...then settle back to normal and the light would go out. Come to find out the regulator for the alternator is in the computer. Had to replace the computer...but it fixed the problem.

Check all your fuses. Make sure both your battery cables are in good shape. A bad ground or wavering ground will cause goofy problems. Ther might even be a fuseble link on the alternator wiring somewhere. Ford was bad about that kind of stuff back in the day. They may have gotten away from it one the newer stuff.

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:51 AM

That was good that you had just gone over the pulley. But does your computer have to be reset after it once shows the Check Charging System Light comes on? If it is an internally regulated alternator the regulator would be inside the alternator case. You could take a volt meter and measure across the battery terminals with the car running and see what voltage you are getting there. Most if working correctly should be around 13/14 volts I believe, but maybe on the newer cars they have changed. If you are getting just 12 volts, then I would say it isn't charging and if you are getting a really high reading I would suspect the regulator as Z-Link said.

Ron

Z-linkCobra · #8 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bomelia

Where would the regulator be?

Its either internaly regulated on the alternator, externaly on the firewall somewhere, or in the computer...

...lol

bomelia · #9 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 06:57 AM

The charger indicated 13.5 volts

Z-linkCobra · #10 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 07:12 AM

A sure fire way to tell if your alternator is charging...start it up..pull the ground cable off the battery. If it dies...its not charging. Amperage output from the alternator is far more crucial than voltage. I have had them in the past put out 13.5 to 14.0 volts but wouldnt maintain a charge...it was only putting out about 3 amps when I had it tested.

bomelia · #11 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 08:49 AM

Well, I dropped it off at a shop. The guy really worried me when he said sometimes they have to send them back to Ford (dealership) so the computer could "learn" about the alternator. I have changed it before and not had to do anything crazy like that. I told him he could do nothing without talking to me.

Mike

bomelia · #12 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Z-linkCobra

A sure fire way to tell if your alternator is charging...start it up..pull the ground cable off the battery. If it dies...its not charging. Amperage output from the alternator is far more crucial than voltage. I have had them in the past put out 13.5 to 14.0 volts but wouldnt maintain a charge...it was only putting out about 3 amps when I had it tested.

I will try that tonight if the mechanic does not fix it.

bomelia · #13 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 12:19 PM

Mechanic said that the alternator "constants" are not correct... take to Ford and have ranges in computer reset. He called it "ranging" what the motor was doing.

Anyways, I will get another alternator and hope it works better.

Mike

Racer_X · #14 (**permalink**) 07-19-2010, 09:14 PM

Get a Motorcraft Alternator or stop by a Ford dealer and get their AER Rebuilt units. They work just like the factory one did and will last as long. The aftermarket ones at the box stores typically use cheaper, lesser quality components and it won't last anywhere near what the factory one will.

Just my $.02 worth based upon experience and the fact I only like replacing failed parts once!

And, Do NOT pull the negative battery cable while running like has been suggested. With todays' electronics, that sends a spike thru the electrical system and can cause all kinds of trouble (read: EXPENSIVE)

bomelia · #15 (**permalink**) 07-20-2010, 06:49 PM

Ok, one of you auto geniuses have to explain this. Car was taken to ford dealership. Charge light blinking and beeping the whole way. Ford said the new alternator was bad. So I went back to auto store, got another and installed it. When the car started, it started blinking and beeping again. A friend sitting in the car started turning stuff on, then it stopped beeping. When he shut off lights and a/c it started beeping again. On and off he kept playing with stuff, suddenly it just stopped beeping!!! Was this the computer calibrating against the alternator?? Right now, all seems well. Drove it about 30 miles with no problems.

trularin · #16 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 01:07 PM

Stupid as this sounds.

Get a stick of DOOR EASE and rub it on the belt as the engine is running. Both sides of the belt.

Then, turn on ALL things in the car. Let it run for about ten minutes. Turn everything off. Shut off the car. Start again and see if all is well.

bomelia · #17 (**permalink**) 07-22-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trularin

Stupid as this sounds.

Get a stick of DOOR EASE and rub it on the belt as the engine is running. Both sides of the belt.

Then, turn on ALL things in the car. Let it run for about ten minutes. Turn everything off. Shut off the car. Start again and see if all is well.

Tru, I had the belt on wrong (went over a tensioner when I should have gone under).

Anyways, I swapped out the second alternator with a third from Ford. Seems the second one worked OK, but occasionally (after the car was rested) it would cause the charger light to beep. Whaa! But the Ford version works just fine.

Here is something I found:

http://www.justanswer.com/questions/...wd-was-on-took

Mike

trularin · #18 (**permalink**) 07-26-2010, 05:43 AM

Well I am glad you got it fixed.

Lube the belt every oil change.