Hi there.
The battery light of my 1999 V6 mustang lights over 3700 rpm.
Ford charged me 170 dollars!!! for the diagnostic.
They told me that the reparation bill will be 1100 dollars!!!!!!
They told me that they have to change the alternator, the battery (failed in charge test), the battery cable (because it is oxyded) and the alternator belt...
Obviously I didn't do the reparation, I think they wanted to cheat me.
Some of you guys has had the same problem and it come from the regulator of the alternator.
Is it possible to change the regulator without changing the regulator ?
I would apreciate if someone living in the San Francisco bay could help me to fix the problem.
Any advice is welcome!!!
Thanks...
Joris

 

Yes, you can buy just the regulator without buying the whole alternator. I am having the same problem with my '02 F150. I had someone rev it up so I could put a meter on the battery while the dash light was on, and I had over 18 volts at the battery. Naturally, I thought it was the regulator. So I put one on it, but it didn't fix it. The parts house wants $225 for a new alternator (not a reman), so I took the alternator over to an automotive electrical shop. They put a new rotor in it (the part that the regulator brushes ride on) and I reinstalled it. A day later it is doing it again. I carried it back to the shop, and they can't figure out what the deal is, so I just had them order me a new one. Their price on a new one is about $50 cheaper than the parts house. I should get it in Monday. Hopefully that will fix my problem.

 

If they had to change all that then they are morons. First thing you do is clean the battery terminals and cables (a $3 tool). You can also take battery to discount auto parts or auto zone, they will diagnose your battery for free, and if you have to buy a new one, they will install it for you for free.

Next up will be alternator, you can get yours rebuild pretty cheap or you could buy one from autozone. EZ swap. Next up will be belt tensioner, EZ swap. The belt itself, EZ.

Even if you start swapping everything yourself parts will cost you $350 tops. Labor hours a pro would poor into this will be 2 hours tops. So that's $120 for the labor from an honest professional. What ford did is charge you premium prices.



AL