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Lights Dim - med RPM - warm

R

red98se

Be Gentle I'm New Here
Joined
Jan 2, 2007
Messages
4
Hi - I have a 98 SE V6 100K miles. Lights dim when the engine is warm - high way speed (3K RPM or so). They were flickering when I first noticed the problem but now seem to just go dim and stay that way. Wipers slow down a touch, dash lights dim. Never happens when it is cold. If I allow the RPM to fall to idle the lights brighten up. The TSB here describes a COLD engine problem. Hesitant to hack without good probability of fixing it.

Anybody else have this same problem and fixed it? Does this sound like the sensor wire problem or a bad alternator? Bad battery? (My battery tested good at autozone but its the original so you never know)

Incidently - I recently replaced the serp belt and the tensioner. At high RPM the battery light would come on which I interpreted as a slipping belt. Old belt was absolutely done - cracked to the belts, glazed, missing little bits. New belt and still the light came on so I figured the tensioner was gone and replaced it too. No more battery light.
Tom
 
I am wondering if it makes sense to rebuilt it (see parts kits on EBay for 40) or buy a reman for $90 with a 1 yr warranty.
 
It is not easy to change out a Duratec alternator. Most of the time, we suggest getting a brand new Ford alternator. But to save money, I would go with a rebuild kit for $40. You can buy them from Autozone or Advance. Remanufactured ones are hit or miss (more miss than hit).
 
Ive probably got 500 or 600 miles on this since I first noticed the problem. Is the alternator working at all right now? What I am trying to figure out is how long I might have before it stops running. This week I putting on about 120 miles a day. Is this likely to limp along for another week or so? I can get a truck to drive if I have to but it gets horrible mileage. Tom
 
red98se said:
Ive probably got 500 or 600 miles on this since I first noticed the problem. Is the alternator working at all right now? What I am trying to figure out is how long I might have before it stops running. This week I putting on about 120 miles a day. Is this likely to limp along for another week or so? I can get a truck to drive if I have to but it gets horrible mileage. Tom
Click to expand...

Is your battery in good condition? Do the alternator and battery test in M&M how to.
http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/forumdisplay.php?f=56

If you don't fix the problem, it will probably not last more than a few days.
 
Last edited:
Tony2005 said:
It is not easy to change out a Duratec alternator. Most of the time, we suggest getting a brand new Ford alternator. But to save money, I would go with a rebuild kit for $40. You can buy them from Autozone or Advance. Remanufactured ones are hit or miss (more miss than hit).
Click to expand...

I called the local Ford Dealer all they have now are remanufactured parts- no more new alternators.

I read the How To (great write up) and what a differnce compared to the Haynes manual. Thanks for the pointer. Haynes has you pulling the axle, tie rod and droping the exhaust. Dont get me wrong - the how to write up still descries a hard but dooable job. The way Haynes paints the picture would make me take it to the dealer. (I got Dealer quotes of about $500 for this job P&L).
 
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