Original Ford Alternator has been tested...results are in...drumroll

[Jomo1994z71]

Doesn't look good!
Guys,
Took the car by Autozone. The stock Ford alternator at 52,000 miles read the following:

Ford Battery with car off= 12.60V (Is this acceptable, as I know the battery is about 3 years old?:shrug

Car idling = 12.37 idling :dw:

From my research, with the car off, I should get around 12-13 volts. And after I start the car up and check the battery again with the engine running. I should get 13-14 volts. I saw nochange in voltage, so I assume my alternator is no good. Here come's a new Ford Alternator, should the battery be replaced as well? Or is it acceptable :shrug:

Any other values I need to confirm?
Thanks guys

 

[cbr repsol]

to be safe autozone can charge your battery for free. With the specs you mentioned that alternator is toast. Dont buy the alt at autozone though...their alt's for cobra suck. I changed one for someone and it was bad right out of the box. The second one was fine but i had to do the labor twice. At that time , giving 03 cobra info . it was the wrong part. I told them to look up a 01 cobra and it was the correct one for the 03. They were mixing up some parts for the mach 1 as well. im not sure if they solved that problem yet , it was a year and a half ago. i hope this info helps.

 

[Jomo1994z71]

to be safe autozone can charge your battery for free. With the specs you mentioned that alternator is toast. Dont buy the alt at autozone though...their alt's for cobra suck. I changed one for someone and it was bad right out of the box. The second one was fine but i had to do the labor twice. At that time , giving 03 cobra info . it was the wrong part. I told them to look up a 01 cobra and it was the correct one for the 03. They were mixing up some parts for the mach 1 as well. im not sure if they solved that problem yet , it was a year and a half ago. i hope this info helps.

Thanks for the input:rockon:

 

[MalcolmV8]

12.6 volts on the battery with the engine off is normal. However once you fire it up you should be reading higher. I usually get 13.8 volts or so. Sounds like that alternator is no good.

 

[Jomo1994z71]

Thanks,
I thought the battery was fine too...
Just ordered a Remanufactured Ford Alternator from Mike at Tousely Ford...
Thanks guys for the input!

 

[MoKo_03SVT]

my stocker alt went out around the 60 - 65k mark...my freakin battery went out at the same time from all of the strain/draining the dead alt put on it.

 

[03cobra#694]

What kind of battery you have now Joe?As you well know batteries don`t usually last more than 3 years down here due to the heat.

 

[Jomo1994z71]

I have the stock replacement. Motorcraft which is a few years old. What is your battery voltage?

 

[Tifosi2003GT]

I have the stock replacement. Motorcraft which is a few years old. What is your battery voltage?

a battery tender over night would work well !!!

 

[steve5575]

What kind of battery you have now Joe?As you well know batteries don`t usually last more than 3 years down here due to the heat.

Knock on wood. I've had my red top Optima for 6 years now in this central Texas heat. I'm on my 4 alternator also (I've run the battery DEAD several times). These Optima's can take a beating.

 

[03cobra#694]

I have the stock replacement. Motorcraft which is a few years old. What is your battery voltage?

Pretty sure it`s around 13.8 at idle.I`ll check when I get home to see what it is off,then running.My battery is about 3 months old.

 

[Jomo1994z71]

Pretty sure it`s around 13.8 at idle.I`ll check when I get home to see what it is off,then running.My battery is about 3 months old.

Report back, this would be great:rockon:
Perhaps one with your ac and light on as well

 

[Evil Bender]

My Factory alt just went out at 63.xxx . Tested as having 1 bad diode. It cost 81 dollars after tax to have it rebiult localy. Cars still on blocks for other work so no miles on it yet.

 

[03cobra#694]

Report back, this would be great:rockon:
Perhaps one with your ac and light on as well

You got it,writing myself a note now.

 

[CobraBob]

My Factory alt just went out at 63.xxx . Tested as having 1 bad diode. It cost 81 dollars after tax to have it rebiult localy. Cars still on blocks for other work so no miles on it yet.

I hope you have better luck than most do with rebuilt alternators. Rebuilding is not generally recommended. Be sure you have a good warranty because you might need it. I believe the best options for replacing bad alternators are a new Ford alternator or a Start 'N Charge. I hope you fare well with yours. :thumbsup:

 

[lxhatch302]

Mine just went out at 53k. 01-3748 is the oreillys part number for a replacement

 

[03cobrah]

just fyi don't buy the autozone alts they suck i had replaced mine 3 times!! just get a start n charge and never look back

 

[Jomo1994z71]

just fyi don't buy the autozone alts they suck i had replaced mine 3 times!! just get a start n charge and never look back

Start-n-Charge aren't available b/c his shop burnt down...
I went with a Reman Ford one

 

[T-Pain808]

13.8 while running, sometimes higher, sometimes lower, esspecially when you fan comes on. Get a aeroforce gauge, one of my best investments so far.

 

[03cobra#694]

Got side tracked yesterday afternoon Joe,better late than never.
12.8 car off
14.2 car running
14.0 car running with a/c,lights and radio on