96 98 whatever windstar 3.8 alternator ??? PLEASE SOMEBODY

[deezem58]

I HATE this van. My latest. Out of nowhere a new "sound " joined the orchestra soft humming as in having a hearing test hum , the alternator/ battery idiot light became lit. I had maybe driven 2 miles pulled into a driveway and the van/battery/alternator died. Jumped started immediately drove 500 yards felt like it was stalling then starting, but not catching pretty much coasted and again complete dead battery. Walked home came back an hour later started right up made it to the driveway humming came back lasts about 20 seconds 1/4 of a mile it again died . Put it on the charger started died . Get the point. I bought a used alternator for 96 which all the paper work claims it was .brought it home wrong alternator , took off the old alternator (bolts were melted on) mean man at the junkyard told me it was a 97 fit ok SERPENTINE BELT ugh took me all day to remove the socket wrench that became jammed in between the "tension pulley bolt " I made that serpentine belt slide onto the alternator with pure anger. Charged it left it running (no idiot light Yeah) 20 min later went out to check dead as a doornail. I'm broke, cold and I broke three nails its Friday night HELP!!!!

[wiswind]

It is possible that the battery is bad....especially if it is the original.

I use a 15mm wrench for the tensioner pulley.....as I have room to get in there.

They will test your battery and alternator for FREE at Advance Auto parts, and...I believe Autozone....They will test them on your car.
If cash is limited....that may be the way to go

I replaced my alternator at Christmas time....at that time the Advance Auto alternator was cheaper than the Autozone one.

My replacement alternator had a note that stated that it should not be installed with a dead battery....as the excessive current may damage the alternator......so a checkup would be a good idea.

If your van is at home, you could try charging the battery...Then.......remove the charger......check the battery a couple of hours later (if it will not start the car......the battery is bad....replace it).

[paulatredies]

Definatly look at the battery, if you have a shorted cell the alternator will charge at maximum amps which will cause the alternator to get very hot and then possibly make noise. Also with a bad battery(shorted cell) overworking your alternator, could cause alternator to go bad quick too. So if battery is bad have charging system checked again to get out of vicious cycle.

[FORDTRACMAN]

ADVICe-it is not anything unusual to cook an alternator by trying charge a "bad" battery.An alternator is designed to maintain a charge not to charge a dead/bad battery.Alternators are very delicate and if not mistreated do a whale of a job.