SportsmanJake

Hey guys. I need some help. Truck is a 1998 F150 Lariat Supercab Tow package+Offroad package.

Earlier this week, my battery light came on. I drove about 10 miles on it before taking it to Advanced and having them look at it. They said the battery was not being charged by the alternator. The battery is a Interstate and less than a year old.

So I bought a rebuilt 130 amp alt from them this morning for $160. I installed it with a new serp belt. I also left them my battery to charge.

So after I finished the install and put the charged battery in the Battery dash light was still on. I drove it around for about 45 mins before taking it back to Advanced. They tested the battery again and it was almost drained. The new alternator is only putting out 11.98 V at idle.

So I am thinking the new rebuilt alternator is ****ty and not charging the battery.
Any ideas? Could it be that the original alt damagedthe battery and now it wont accept a charge?

Should I take it back, get a refund and look for a Motorcraft alternator?

All the Motorcraft 130 amp alts I found online were $300! Is that what i need to pay? Are there other alternatives?

Thanks! I'm pulling my hair out!

allinon72

My first instinct is that you got a bad alternator.

sam29078

I never buy reman alt and starts. I have had to many bad ones. Advance offer life time warranty I have used it.

4x4dave

Get that alternator tested! I've seen a decent amount out of the box be bad.

Wolvee

Get a New (Not remanufactured) 130amp from Autozone with a Lifetime warranty. It should be around $170.

Normally I'd say buy Motorcraft but with the availability of Autozones and the warranty, you normally can't go wrong with them.

I just warrantied an Alternator I bought for my Nova 15 years ago.

Jbrew

It's definitly bad. No doubt about it, if you tested it correctly. You should be at 14.4V or above. I've seen Ford alts read as high as 15v. Never below 14.4.

As said, get the 130amp. Rebuilds CAN BE the best way to go , IF and that's a very big if, they used quality components. Unfortunately, they usually don't. IF they do, your going to pay for it. I priced a build in the past, just for the parts alone it was crazy high in price. So yea as said, Wolvee gave some good advice IMO.

Now if you want a great one and do mind paying for, I can link yuh.

SportsmanJake

An update:

I took the old alternator into autozone to be tested and it failed. They said the voltage regulator was completely destroyed. Without the voltage regulator, I am thinking my battery was fried as well.

Tomorrow I am picking up a new battery to put in with my rebuilt alt. Hopefully everything will work.

kd4gij

Read Jbrew's post. The rebult alt is bad. Buying a battery won't help. You need to charge the battery then have it load tested.

SportsmanJake

I left my battery with autozone to charge. When I pick it up tomorrow I will have them test it. Will they be able to tell if it is good or not?

Should I pull my new alternator out and have it tested also?

kd4gij

Yes on bouth.