Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Freakin' alternator probs!!!!

So the alternator was indeed bad and Autozone did replace it. We are checking the inline fuse to see if it was weak and caused the regulator to go bad early. I did replace that too.

Guys, your alternator MAY NOT BE BAD. Check the Mega fuse inline fuse first. If it is bad, you will see similar results with the charge light. This part is easier to replace and cheaper. Do it first and then see if your problem goes away. You can find the inline fuse on the Zetecs under the intake plenum that is located on top of the TB. You will see it there on the top of the black plastic intake runners on the backside of the engine.

Remember I said I was going to bust another 13mm socket on it? Didn't! But I did manage to bust up the palm of my hand good!!!! Why do we have screw threads coming out of the strut towers of our cars?????? I lost a couple layers of skin on that.

To remove the alternator on our cars requires a full day of preparedness. You are going to need it because you WILL be fighting the car the next day. You need a good floor jack and at least and long and short extention for your socket wrenches. A torque wrench wouldn't hurt and a whole lot of patience. Plus a friend that you can shout "Who designed it like this??" I said things like "They were smoking a whole lot of crack to do this like this"

Anyhoo....so now after the rear wheel cylinder, front brake discs and pads and the alternator...I am off to do the oil...and the driver side rear brake shoes.....ugh

L8R
Rich