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Old 12-12-2009, 05:11 PM
Bill Jesse Bill Jesse is offline
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Default Alternator Failure

My neighbour has a 2008 Ranger and noticed his headlights were getting weak. The dealer found that the alternator was gone as was one of the "headlight seals". I am confused. What are headlight seals?
The neighbours were quite disappointed to learn that the alternator was gone even though it and will be replaced under warranty. Is this a common thing to have them fail so early?
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Old 12-12-2009, 07:56 PM
DHEM DHEM is offline
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headlight seals? Maybe they meant like the wire connection insulation wore through.
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Old 12-13-2009, 07:32 AM
Jay FX4 Jay FX4 is offline
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I was thinking maybe there was some separation between the two halves of the headlight housing, allowing moisture to get in. But that's just a wild guess.

No, the alternator should not go bad that fast.
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Old 12-13-2009, 08:21 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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^^^ What he said. And no, it is not common for alternators to fail so early. $hit happens.
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Old 12-13-2009, 11:08 AM
Bill Jesse Bill Jesse is offline
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Sounds like a complex set up. I understand replacement lights are pricey.
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Old 12-13-2009, 11:30 AM
greyghost greyghost is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Jesse View Post
Sounds like a complex set up. I understand replacement lights are pricey.
should be covered under warranty since the truck's so new.
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Old 12-13-2009, 11:57 AM
Bill Jesse Bill Jesse is offline
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It is covered but the dealer cannot do the job until Tuesday. This was diagnosed on Thursday prior.
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Old 12-13-2009, 01:34 PM
STL STL is offline
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Would be odd for the headlight to come apart like that

My alt. lasted 6 years and that was with a stereo system on it for 4.5 years
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Old 12-16-2009, 11:10 PM
Bill Jesse Bill Jesse is offline
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Okay the alternator was replaced Tuesday as promised. My neighbour drove the truck home and went back out Wednesday. At noon in the centre of town it died. Called the auto club who towed back to the dealer.
Prognosis? Defective replacement alternator!
Sounds strange to me. Would it not have been checked for output when it was replaced? Guess not. And from my way of understanding if it failed the truck would just not suddenly die - or would it?
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Old 12-16-2009, 11:43 PM
littleblue littleblue is offline
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Could be a problem with the electrical system causing the alternators to fail. Also a lot of Ford alternator replacement instructions state the battery must be charged before installing alternator or it will fail.
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Old 12-17-2009, 10:08 AM
RangerJustin RangerJustin is offline
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No the truck would not just die with a bad alternator, if the battery was still good. I drove with a toasted alternator 70 or so miles i would say before it completely died.
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Old 03-21-2010, 12:14 AM
cacher cacher is offline
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Default Re: Alternator Failure

Replaced the alternator on my 94 about 1 1/2 years ago. Bought it in 2002 used, and probably had 170,000 on it when the dshboard battery light came on.....and I had no idea what that meant, so I typed it into google and it came up "alternator failure." Replaced and all fixed, even dashlight went off, lol.
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