How hard to replace Alternator on '02 SES Taurus??

The alternator is apparently going bad according to the folks at AutoZone. The battery was messed up too but they gave me a new one under warranty. They stated that there is only about 12.4 volts going to the battery at 2000 RPM with A/C & high beams on.

I have been running with this "bad alternator" for about two weeks now using the new battery (figure if it goes bad again, I'll just get another one) while I waited for my special order alternator to come in at my local Pep Boys. They were the only ones that could ORDER one for me other that Ford for about $120 less and with a lifetime warranty. ANYHOOOO

I cracked open the hood my my Taurus this morning and WOW, the damn thing is against the firewall and down at the bottom!

HOW DIFFICULT is it to replace the afore mentioned alternator?! Do I need any special tools? I think I HAVE TO go in from the bottom as there does not seem to be a clear way to get at it from the top. How long should it take, as we are in a grip of 107 degree days and want to know if I should start work at the CRACK O' DAWN!!???
About what would be the labor cost to have it done?

If you have the Vulcan it's quite easy. If you have the Duratec it will probably suck. Judging from the fact that you state there's no obvious path from the top, I'm betting Duratec.

If you want labor prices call a dealership. I wouldn't think more than a couple hours for the Vulcan at the absolute most; for the Duratec I don't know.

duratec is about $800 including labor from the dealership, they actually drop the engine to change it since they can do that faster than try to snake their hands up under the subframe to change it.

Vulcan shouldn't take a decent shadetree mechanic more than 2 hours.

I removed the wheel, looked down from above and put the car on ramps and checked from below. NO GO!

I called Ford and found out that they remove the entire passenger side axle to CHANGE THE FRIGGIN alternator!

I will NEVER buy a front wheel drive ANYTHING again! I like my Taurus a lot, have never had any big issues and even took a counter-clockwise spin down the 30 in Ft Worth that ended with a side impact against a guard rail with the drivers' side wheel assembly BUT..... $500 to replace an alternator! I will own rear wheel drive vehicles from now on.

Thank you for your advice but off to Ford the Taurus goes.....

I picked up the Taurus today @ 5:15p and the minute I drove out of Ford, the damn battery light came on. Along with that, the car is "coughing" when I accelerate and when the A/C is on. It has lost horsepower and at highway speeds, it almost feels like the car is in a lower gear and slows quicker than usual when I let my foot off the accelerator and coast.

PLEASE!!!!! Any ideas would be GREATLY appreciated....

NOTE: A guy I talked to at Auto Zone advised me to disconnect the battery and reset the computer for the car. I don't see how that could be it as I also have the power and coughing issues, not just a battery light coming on.