winstar alternator?

I have a 99 winstar with a host of problems. today's problem is a loss of pwer while driving. I think it's the alternator. as I was driving the power began to disappear from one thing to another until nothing was working except the engine and then it too got weaker and weaker until it finally stopped. The battery is only a year old - from what I have read, it seems to be the alternator. so here are my questions; where is it? is it hard to replace/repair? is this even the problem?

I have a 99 winstar with a host of problems. today's problem is a loss of pwer while driving. I think it's the alternator. as I was driving the power began to disappear from one thing to another until nothing was working except the engine and then it too got weaker and weaker until it finally stopped. The battery is only a year old - from what I have read, it seems to be the alternator. so here are my questions; where is it? is it hard to replace/repair? is this even the problem?

Engine is a 3.0 or a 3.8 ?

I replaced mine a while back (it's a 3.8) and it was pretty easy. The hardest part is getting the belt back on. I got down on the ground and turned the tensioner with a combination wrench while my wife put belt back on the alternator pulley. I probably could have done it myself, but it was easier with two people. Plus, she loves to get her hands dirty :grinno: Took me about 30 minutes.

thanks. mine is a 3.8 as well. there was a ground wire which seemed to be broken off from a small black block attached to the altenator. Am I safe in assuming this lack of a ground has caused my problem? I am going to have the alternator tested tomorrow . your thoughts?

I replaced mine a while back (it's a 3.8) and it was pretty easy. The hardest part is getting the belt back on. I got down on the ground and turned the tensioner with a combination wrench while my wife put belt back on the alternator pulley. I probably could have done it myself, but it was easier with two people. Plus, she loves to get her hands dirty :grinno: Took me about 30 minutes.

The symptoms you've posted are classic signs of a failed alternator. You may well already know this, but once your car is started and running the battery doesn't do much. Instead, it's the alternator that powers everything. However, if your alternator quits working, then all that is powering your engine is the battery and, as it discharges, it gets weaker and weaker until your engine dies and you don't have enough battery power to start it again. That's pretty much exactly what you described.

As far as the ground wire goes, you are correct that it should be grounded to a large bolt and the front of the engine compartment. I'd tried to find some way of reconnecting it to ground (with a jumper or whatever) and see what happens. Of course, you'll probably have to jump the battery to get it started again, but you should be able to tell pretty quickly if that is your problem. Good luck!

You can test your alternator by checking the voltage across the battery leads when the engine is running - if the alternator is working, the voltage should be around 14 volts.