Alternator troubles :(

[Whitehot]

Installed new one and it died, again... think might be red wire shorting out somewere.... battery is in the trunk... what else would cause that?? Mouse or rub a wire bare somewere?? :( .. they ll figure it out... troubleshooting is always fun :( ....

[ZR]

Maybe just a poor rebuild OR was previous one fairly new as well?

[Whitehot]

yup, new one last fall, late, and then blew this spring, first time out... Must be a short somewere??... I kinda hope it wasn t a rodent ??...battery is in the trunk... just take some time to follow the dam wire lol... heres hopin...

[Whitehot]

the car would still run though... guess the wire rub?? or short wouldn t keep it from running??

[ZR]

Possible but even once alt fails wire is still live. Could also be as simple as bad connection / broken wire at the trigger plug.

[Whitehot]

I have heard a few guys saying the Ford Alternator is better than aftermarket ones... Anyone else hear that??

[ZR]

Very true in the '05 up GT / V6 + 03/04 Cobra, not seen much if any difference in the 2V years but in fairness, seen few fail no matter the mileage.

[Whitehot]

Battery in the trunk doesn t help... long wire from alt...

[ZR]

Do you have a mega cable to the back?
Do you have a mega ground from chassis to engine?
Do you have a mega ground from battery to chassis?
Are all spotlessly clean and tight?
Have you confirmed it's actually the alt that quit n not a wiring / connection issue at the alt plug?

[Whitehot]

I believe so....all 1 gauge copper wire.... clean n spotless...still wkn on it, either gonna go with Ford Alt or heavy duty after market I think??...

[ZR]

Do you have ground cables front and rear or did you run two cables to the rear?

[ZR]

Not being over driven by an OD crank pulley by chance?

[Whitehot]

It does have a big alum pulley (balancer) on front of engine lol.. sound like I don t know lol

[Whitehot]

Would that make alotta difference?

[ZR]

Yes over driving alt can greatly reduce it's life.
Did shop not figure out the issue?

[ZR]

If being over spun, need to look into something like this for your car.

http://www.jmschip.com/metco-3-2-alternator-pulley-03-04-cobra/

[ZR]

Alt should be sent to a rebuilder to figure out what actually let go, maybe it was just a failed part inside that has nothing to do with anything else.

[Whitehot]

thats sorta the plan...