88 mustang ???? alternator

[48willys]

My brother has a 88 mustang, that we can't fix, the problem started last week when it briefly flashed AMP on the dash while his daughter was driving it,then the next day would not start..we replaced the original alternator with a new one, the car started after jumping it, ran fine, amp gauge didn't show a charge, when we disconnect the jumpers the car died....put a new battery in it and drove it home approx 40 miles.

next day drove it to autozone had it tested, they said it was a bad alternator, so we replaced it, it still does not charge.

any ideas ? 3 alternator later, I can't believe that we could get that lucky to have 3 bad ones in a row

thanks Dale

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[mastermech]

the alternators were probably bad. also remember you shouldn't use an alternator to charge a low battery it kills the alternator. when you put the new alternator in disconnect the positive cable from the battery with the car running if it dies then there is a wiring issue. if it still runs then the charging system is fine. or you can have the autozone person check it with the machine. if the system is fine but later you have no power then you have a short somewhere. g'luck

[48willys]

Originally Posted by 48willys

My brother has a 88 mustang, that we can't fix, the problem started last week when it briefly flashed AMP on the dash while his daughter was driving it,then the next day would not start..we replaced the original alternator with a new one, the car started after jumping it, ran fine, amp gauge didn't show a charge, when we disconnect the jumpers the car died....put a new battery in it and drove it home approx 40 miles.

next day drove it to autozone had it tested, they said it was a bad alternator, so we replaced it, it still does not charge.

any ideas ? 3 alternator later, I can't believe that we could get that lucky to have 3 bad ones in a row

thanks Dale

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thanks for the reply
when we bought the battery they said that it was fully charged. I did find that hard to believe,but took there word for it.
we did infact remove a cable from the battery but I can't remember if it was the pos side. the engine died, we have cleaned the ground cables, and replaced the pos lead,right know I'm waiting to see if the third alternator works, my brother and I work different shifts so it hard to get together,

Thank you Dale

[doommarine44]

first and foremost DO NOT EVER BUY HARD PARTS FROM AUTOZONE.
I have heard and seen horror stories of 4 5 even 6 alternators being bad in a row.. they are JUNK!!

Either take the factory alternator and have it rebuilt by a qualified or reputable rebuilder, or buy a new ford alternator, or goto a junk yard and get a factory one. Its much easier and cheaper to get a quality alternator than to put on 5 bad autozone/advanced/oreilys alternators..

They sell mortuary parts.. they are in it to make money, and you will help them alot if you buy their parts. They do not care if they are bad, and oh! they have a warranty but its your blood sweat and time to do it, verses buying the real deal and doing it right.. belive me I am a used car dealer that takes care of his customers, I learned the expensive way..

I buy only their batteries, wipers, other misc unimportant parts, and fluids.

Sure the parts say "meet or exceeds factory specs" but.. do they exceed factory specs negatively? hehe..

[ken4d]

I got three in a row bad from them after the first I had them test the others before I left the store

[toddler62]

My 86 Mustang 3.8 has a voltage regulator on the alternator side of inner fender. This could also be your problem