Hey ya'll,
Well my alternator is definately toast. What should I go w/? A 95A?..130A?..or more? Im really not familiar w/ how it works w/ alternators...do I need to get one and use my pulley or does it come ready to be bolted on?


Also..where is the best place to get one?

Thanks

 

Get one from Auto Zone or whatever local parts store you prefer. Get the 200 amp.

 

How is the factory wiring on these trucks? Isn't it just 8ga wire? I sure wouldn't run 200amps through 8ga wiring...(of course most don't draw that much, but if the electrical need was there as in adding a winch, stereo, etc...)

 

Ya thats one thing I do know is if I go to high I have to change the gauge of wire to the battery..I really dont want to have to do that if I dont have to

 

I thought the alt. came in a 130 amp and a 200amp. I guess I was wrong go with the biggest one anyway.

 

Im thinkin I will try the 130amp..hopefully that will take care of it...is it a big deal to change out?

 

It's a PITA if you don't have the right tools.

 

What all do I need? Sorry for askin so many questions..lol

 

Some of them new ones that you buy you have to put your old pulley on. I think you are supposted to have a special tool for it. We had to get one when we changed the alt on my 69.

 

I don't remember what it's called. I didn't have it when I put my new one in and it was a pain.

 

I am correcting myself. The alternator has a bolt on it. It was the power steering that does not have a nut. It is pressed on with a shaft on it that is threaded inside. I think with a normal puller you should be ok on the alternator.

 

I think on the alt you have to turn the bold the opposite way you normally would turn it to loosen in and then something else wants to spin while your doing it. That's if memory serves me correctly. I replaced min over a year and a half ago.

 

All you do with the alt is take a 15 mm, relase tension off the tensioner pulley, slide the belt off just the alt. Then take the 3 bolts out of the alt and unplug the 2 wires from it. You just slide it out and if you need the pulley, just use an impact and take the old one off. It is regular threads and you just have to hold the pulley with a gloved hand. The nut will come right off and the pulley slides off. The new alt will have a pulley already on it. I believe you can get an explorer alt which is 130a, I could be wrong though.

An alt is very very easy to replace, it's 3 bolts, 2 plugs on it...you just need regular hand tools. Make sure you put anti sieze on all the bolts when you put them back in, I know mine were rusted, so it was a huge PITA to get them out w/o using an impact.

 

as others have said since you have some additional accessories by your sig. you could go for the 130amp alternator.
i got a 3 year old 95 amp one out of a pick n pull for $25, so check your local yards.

2 plugs, 3 bolts, and you're done. it will probably take oh 15 minutes tops to change out.
the new one should have the pulley already on it.

 

Thanks you guys for the help...def. doesnt sound that bad. Im gonna try my best to find a 130 amp alt and go for it. Ill let yall know how it goes

 

Dunno if you can have your truck out of commission for a day or two. But you can drop the alternator off at some electric motor repair shops. They'll rebuild it and ussually its cheaper than buying one from Napa or where ever Seems like it was $20-$40 cheaper. Thats what I did when Mine went south. Dropped it off at 8AM and picked it up at 5 that same day.

 

the only problem with that is that they usually dont give you a warranty, so if it goes out, you are back in the same boat as before with less money in your pocket. If you go to advance auto, pick up the 130 amp alt(new, not reman) and it should already have a new pulley bolted on. If i am not mistaken, they have at least a 2 year warranty, some are lifetime!!!

 

Think that depends on the shop.