1993 Ford Taurus Battery Light

change the alt

hurc ast

Before you jump in and replace the alternator, I'd check the tensioner/belt for problems. I've seen it where the tensioner can loosen when accelerating.

Hope that helps,

Kenn

J.G. opined in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

Either belt is slipping .. OR..

Though it seems a little early, unless you do a lot of city driving, this is often an indicator of worn out brushes.

I posted a tip on refurbing an alternator a while back and this would have helped you avoid this.

So now, go to salvage and pick one up for about 60 bucks, and order a brush set for it from NAPA

See the repost below

If you havent changed a belt before, i suggest you find someone who has.

If this is a 3.0, (dunno about 3.8) remember that the tensioner pivot bolt has to be loosened.

how his alt would still wear out?

hey hack havent seen ya in a while hope your not ill

hurc ast

My 3.0 liter 97 Taurus was doing this at one point. started at first only under very heavy load (foot-to-the-floor passing, high rpms), then gradually got worse. It was the belt tensioner letting the belt slip. I'd look at that first. I don't know how long ford alts last, but mine has about 120,000 miles and is running like a champ.

161k on my '94 3.0, still charging OK. Belt tensioner is frozen on this guy's car. I pulled mine off, freed and lubed it, back on and fine for the last 10k miles. Found it doing a routine belt change, never had an indication it was froze up and not adjusting. Not even a squeal or jerk in the power steering. Yeah I should have replaced it but I'm going for max. miles / dollar cost as at this point the car's lived a good life.

Mine grenaded on my wife's 93. The bearing flew apart, then the bolt came out and went through the washer tank.

Bob