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02 Ranger Edge 3.0L Alternator Charging Intermittently


Brichard2440

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Nov 30, 2024
Messages
3
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1
Location
Honolulu, HI
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford Ranger 3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Aloha,
I bought an 2002 Ranger Edge 3.0L at the Pearl Harbor Abandoned Vehicle Auction that I've been slowly pulling out of the grave. I ghot it running pretty good then all of a sudden the dash battery light came on and sure enough the alternator quit charging. I replaced that 1 and within about 10 miles of driving the new alternator failed. The 3rd one is working intermittently. I read the forums pertaining toi similar issues which led me to check all the grounds, etc. I haven't actually tested the fusible links but the insulation on them looks to be intact. The thing I noticed that is consistent with the intermittency is that at first startup the alternator is charging as it should then shortly after reaching normal operating temp the alternator stops charging. Also when low idling it charges fine but when the ECU increases the idle to engage the fan clutch the alternator stops charging then starts charging when the idle slows again. That is consistent as I watched it over a 20 minute period and that cycle happened several times. I am thinking someone monitoring the problem will know what the likely culprit is based on intermittency being consistent with idle fluctuations. I appreciate any and all feedback.
Mahalo!
 

franklin2

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Joined
Dec 24, 2019
Messages
4,037
Reaction score
2,018
Location
Virginia
Vehicle Year
1984
Make / Model
Bronco II
Transmission
Manual
Failure analysis;

1st failure, alternator quit working. No intermittent, just stopped working.

2nd failure, alternator and charging system worked for a little while and just failed again. That tells us the original problem was the alternator.

3rd failure, alternator is working intermittently. From the previous analysis I am going to say this 3rd alternator is no good also.

From looking at what happened before, and knowing what I know about reman alternators, there is a very good chance you have another bad alternator. The reman business is pretty lousy. The only hope you have is that someone turned in their alternator and there was nothing really wrong with it. That is the best reman to get. Sorry to say, those first two alternators you bought, someone else will have to go through this same thing till they finally get thrown in the trash.
 

Brichard2440

New Member
U.S. Military - Veteran
Joined
Nov 30, 2024
Messages
3
Reaction score
1
Location
Honolulu, HI
Vehicle Year
2002
Make / Model
Ford Ranger 3.0
Transmission
Automatic
Failure analysis;

1st failure, alternator quit working. No intermittent, just stopped working.

2nd failure, alternator and charging system worked for a little while and just failed again. That tells us the original problem was the alternator.

3rd failure, alternator is working intermittently. From the previous analysis I am going to say this 3rd alternator is no good also.

From looking at what happened before, and knowing what I know about reman alternators, there is a very good chance you have another bad alternator. The reman business is pretty lousy. The only hope you have is that someone turned in their alternator and there was nothing really wrong with it. That is the best reman to get. Sorry to say, those first two alternators you bought, someone else will have to go through this same thing till they finally get thrown in the trash.

I'll go along with that. I'm gonna try a used OEM alternator next. We'll see what happens with that. Thanks for the input
 

SenorNoob

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TRS 25th Anniversary
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Oct 24, 2012
Messages
3,544
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1,568
Location
Middle Tennessee
Vehicle Year
1988
Make / Model
Ford
Engine Type
4.0 V6
Engine Size
4.0
Transmission
Manual
2WD / 4WD
4WD
Total Lift
1.5" Front + 4" Rear
Tire Size
245-70-R16
I have an alternator from a 2000-something Explorer still doing it's job on my truck. The bearings really should've gone out by now...

And I'll agree, rebuilt is questionable at best these days. On my original engine I spent a couple hours cleaning up the fan clutch threads on a rebuilt water pump to get it on.
 

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