6 ALTERNATORS

termilover

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Guys,

2008 GT500, 58,000 kms, Only mod is exhaust

I understand there are similar threads to this with regards to 07-09 having Alternator issues, I also know that the Ford alternators do not last long when spin at high RPM for long periods, Heat etc

In two years my car which isn't raced has been thru 6 alternators, Just wanna know if anyone has ever had similar issues, Or if anyone has any ideas of where to look,

All replacements have been ford replacements
 

69b302

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Common issues for the older models. I switched to a PA performance unit after my second failure and have not had an issues since(5+ years).
 

sleek98

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I run a nations alternator. They are made in Missouri so being semi local I thought I would give them a shot. Have not had an issue since, but I only installed it middle of last summer.
 

termilover

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I really do appreciate all the responses guys as at the moment I really do not feel comfortable driving the car any distance,

I did think about going the Nations route

Is it possible there could be a problem causing this to happen? Or are the alternators just JUNK
 

SCGallo2

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Is it possible there could be a problem causing this to happen? Or are the alternators just JUNK

The remanufactured OEM Ford alternators are junk. Here is my experience: https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/how-well-is-your-alternator-performing.1159061/#post-15898038

It is possible that you have a high resistance short to ground somewhere in your electrical system demanding more current from your battery and charging system under normal use and drastically shortening your alternator's life expectancy. With the high failure rate of alternators you are experiencing, I would bring it to a dealer or experienced automotive alternator shop to check current draw with all accessories off and on to see if anything unusual can be identified. If everything looks normal, I would install a good quality aftermarket alternator and hopefully that will fix your issue.
 

Race Red Boss

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The remanufactured OEM Ford alternators are junk. Here is my experience: https://www.svtperformance.com/threads/how-well-is-your-alternator-performing.1159061/#post-15898038

It is possible that you have a high resistance short to ground somewhere in your electrical system demanding more current from your battery and charging system under normal use and drastically shortening your alternator's life expectancy. With the high failure rate of alternators you are experiencing, I would bring it to a dealer or experienced automotive alternator shop to check current draw with all accessories off and on to see if anything unusual can be identified. If everything looks normal, I would install a good quality aftermarket alternator and hopefully that will fix your issue.

I would agree; that's far too many alternators, even for the Ford Remans. Something else is likely going on as SCGallo2 mentions. Get it checked out before you go dropping more coin on another alternator and let the forum know what you find out. Good luck!
 

me32

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Go nations alternator and dont look bad. I went through 3 stock alts. Since installing a nations alt 4yrs ago i havent had any issues. Holds a 14.6 volts at idle
 

devilish64

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Ive probably been through 4 or 5.... last one was a 200 amp PA that blew the voltage regulator and was charging 16+ volts..... thanks aeroforce gauge! Theese alternators suck!
 

evasive

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Get the pulley from Billet Pro Shop and slow the alt down a tad. Longevity will be your reward. I went through two stockers and switched to a PAPerformace with Billet Pro Shop pulley.
 

Robert M

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Get the pulley from Billet Pro Shop and slow the alt down a tad. Longevity will be your reward. I went through two stockers and switched to a PAPerformace with Billet Pro Shop pulley.

^^^^^Agreed.......If over revving the oem alternator is the problem, then replacing the original with another is..............well? continuing the problem. The first and cheapest idea would be to slow down the alternator rpm's with the alt. pulley mentioned above, 10% and 15% are options. <<<That is what Ford did with the hi-po cars in the 1960's, the upper end street performance Fords got a larger diameter pulley to slow the alt. revolutions while still keeping it within specs to charge a street car with accessories.

R
 

Imatk

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I would probably first check for parasitic draw. You can do this with a 30-dollar multimeter.

If you don't know how there are plenty of youtube vids that show how to do it... but basically you set the meter to amps and then disconnect the negative terminal of your battery and touch the negative probe of the meter to your now disconnected terminal and the positive to your battery.

If your reading is higher than 80 milliamps then you have a problem with a short.

From that point you need to start pulling fuses. Fuse, by, fuse until your reading falls into a normal range. Once it falls whatever fuse you pull is the culprit and then you go about finding that circuit.

It sounds difficult, but it isn't.

If you don't have the issue at all though, that's a very fast check to make sure... meaning if your meter reads 80milliamps or below you know you're good, and it's just the alternator.

You might also have an issue with the alternator ground, and or power wire. Again you would need to do a test on those lines to see if you have any voltage drop from one end to the other.

My GUESS is that you just need a good alternator (I went through three before I bought my Nations alt) but 30 bucks and an hour or so with a meter will save you some money if it's some other culprit.
 

fullboogie

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^^^ Parasitic draw - how does that effect the alternator??? That's just the battery.
 

Imatk

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^^^ Parasitic draw - how does that effect the alternator??? That's just the battery.

If you have an issue with parasitic draw and your battery keeps getting drained down the alternator has to work harder.
 

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