Today STINKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rampage

I went to visit family this weekedn for the holiday. Started to drive home this morning and got exactly half way between both places. What happens next? The dang alternator in car car shatters! It does not just simply break, it shattered! Now, just how does this happen? I am not a mechanic so I do not know. Anyway, I am back home now. While I was away visiting family, I found some really nice error coins. I will have to post another post with some scans in it. Cheers, Richard.

Fairlaneman

Shattered ?? What the heck ! The case broke or did the Armature fall out ? Either way its a Little weird. Hope it was not one of those foreign jobs that cost a fortune to replace.

crito

It does not just simply break, it shattered! Now, just how does this happen?

Usually it results from a mechanic realizing you only need a belt... then he has to hit your alternator with a hammer to make some money

Rampage

The armature completely fell out and the case had two large cracks in it. Okay...it did not shatter like a glass would if you through it on the floor, but, two large cracks plus the armature falling apart was a bit disturbing. I only buy American made cars and that is what this was.

darktone

crito- come on now be nice to us mechanics or next time your cars in the shop we might forget to put your drain plug in your oil pan

Rampage-
I am going to take a wild guess and say you are driving a GM product? GM alternaters are a joke I can't believe they make them that cheap. mike

Fairlaneman

Darktone:

Can't understand why folks are always all over Mech-in-necks like Us. I guess just like Coin Dealers some are Garbage and some are Great. Yoy always hear about the Bad first....

In My case, Diesel, we are sometimes More Appreciated that Automotive.

Ken

darktone

Fairlaneman- I think they take it out on us because whenever thier car breaks down it costs lots of money and it usually is a big inconvenience for them- I guess it's about the same feeling I have for dentists . mike

Fairlaneman

I love Dentists !!

The last one I went to told me it is people like you that make us go broke. Still at 55 No Cavities or anything. Blessed with perfect teeth. Of course He said, I see you still have your molars do you want them taken out ?? My response " If its not Broke do not screw with it" sort of like Old Fords.

Have you ever seen a Broke Dentist ?

presleyh

Well at least yours just fell out, I have an 88 mercury gran marquise as a third car and about every 6 months the alternator catches fire. i have over 220,000 miles on the car and auto zone has given me 7 replacement alternators in the last 5 years. Lifetime warranty, i love it.

darktone

presleyh- go to NAPA get a good alternater and your problem should be solved. auto-zone is the accugrade of the auto parts industry. mike

presleyh

That may be overall good advise but i love the way autozone keeps up with your warranties. my 1986 f150 had 450,000 miles on it when i finaly retired it, my 1992 f150 has 235,000 my wifes geo storm has 135,000 my daughters 86 200zx has 225,000, sons 1986 jeep cherokee has 200,000 my other daughter has a 1991 chrysler convertible with 180,000. I have two full records on the computer at auto zone. Brakes for the fords? Probably 100 sets of lifetime pads by now and all for the price of two sets!

crito

Sears put an alternator in my big Ford Bronco for $150, including labor. Same cost me $250 for my little Geo Metro But it's a 3 banger that gets 58 mpg highway, so made up the extra cost on my last cross country trip I don't know what it is with alternators, but when I've done it myself, I keep getting bum units... rather have Sears replace it for free (which they've had to do once already.)

darktone

presleyh-thats about 6,850 miles per set of brakes. My customers would go crazy if I installed brakes like that but if you are happy with them thats all that counts. Rampage- sorry about cluttering up your thread with car talk. mike

Bear

Rampage - All you have to do is trade your car in , when its due for an oil change, for a new car every 6,000 miles and avoid the hassel of repaires. Bear

presleyh

I left out the 1995 f150, dont know how many miles on it. But i pull trailers a lot and the 150 ford is really not meant to do the kind of pulling i do. thats a wild guess on the number of brake pads, its a bunch though. My point is i buy a lot of car parts and i cant keep up with paper work worth a darn. Auto zone pulls up my account from 10 years back and hands me a new set of brakes, or belts, or water pumps on the 302 fords, or alternators for the Merc. That is worth coming back for.

darktone

presleyh- I am a ford guy also. I had a torino with a 429 cobra jet in my late teens and early twewnties. Several pintos with turbo 2.3's V-6's with nitrous, and one with a 302 and 351. I tamed down a little and drove a 79 f150 4x4 with a 429 until a couple of years ago. mike

Coulport

Since this has transformed into Open Forum II, I'll play along.
Had a light breakfast and worked on my foreign crowns using the new Krause.
Wife and I had a nice late lunch at an all you can eat buffet. Great selection and well prepared.
Stopped off at a pick and pull junk yard looking for one of those little screw eyes used as tie-downs on a Ford Explorer. They didn't have one meaning any type of Explorer.
Tried to get one at a Ford dealer and was told by the parts manager that they would have to order one in and cost would be 9 bucks. I just quietly left not telling him where they could put it. Anyone have an idea where I could get one other than midnight requisition at a used car lot?

You will note I did mention coins.

66Tbird

I've seen a few alt's come from together like that, from a racing standpoint it's usualy heat related. So in my case I had them remove it,,,,, not pratical in your situation,,, sorry. Then a friend just had to have one of those 2 million watt sounds systems, so I had to design up a way to put four on one serpentine,,, now that cost a pretty penny(cent), but it sounded really good,,, even a block away.