3.8 Alternator November 19, 2005, 01:30:58 PM Recently my 87 T-Bird 3.8 V-6 with 179,000 miles developed an alternator malfunction. I lent my sister the vehicle and while she was driving the alt light went on and the dash did a pinball machine routine. She opened the hood and the thing was smoking black. She had it towed into the shop (a reputable former Ford mechanic)and he changed the alternator to a somewhat different style along with the harness and the two connectors. One of the connectors that he replaced was originally a lug that was on back of the unit. Both seem to be a much heaver gauge. I'm wondering why he changed it to the different style alt and connectors. Back in 1997,79,000 miles ago I changed the alternator with one from a local reputable rebuilder and it's been fine for all of these years. Could there have been a recall? Quote Selected
3.8 Alternator Reply #1 – November 19, 2005, 01:54:30 PM this happens ....often.shiznitty, inferior gauge wiring is the main culprit, and when the voltage regulator goes bad, the sometimes catch fire. It did on my '89 Bird.I got luck though, car lived too. Quote Selected
Topic: 3.8 Alternator (Read 1093 times)
previous topic - next topic
