Electrical automotive components have evolved significantly in the last few decades. While the basics have remained the same, there have been several advancements that have made them a lot more reliable. Things as simple as wiring have evolved a fair bit to ensure reliability and improve efficiency. This is exactly why electrical gremlins are among the biggest problems when it comes to older vehicles. 

Some vehicles face electrical problems which are so difficult to deal with that they make them not worth fixing, essentially totaling a vehicle. Luckily, it’s not as bad when it comes to most Ford F150 models. The electronics on this truck aren’t overly complicated which helps its case. That said, there’s a Ford F150 alternator issue that crops up quite often, and it requires a little know-how to troubleshoot. 

What Does the Alternator Do?

The workings of the electrical system of a vehicle are often misunderstood. It is wrongly believed that it’s the battery that powers the vehicle, but that’s not the case. The battery’s main purpose is to supply the juice required to get the car started. Once the engine is running, it’s able to power the alternator which in turn gives the engine and the rest of the electrical components the energy it requires. 

Thanks to improvements in alternator technology, there have been some significant changes. Initially, alternators used an external regulator that dictated the current required. However, in the 90s, they started using built-in regulators. Modern alternators also make use of a load request type charging system. Thanks to this system, the vehicle can generate the energy required when necessary. The vehicle ECU is responsible for controlling the alternator on modern vehicles and manages to do so thanks to many sensors present in the electrical system.

Another advantage that comes with modern alternators is that they can detect inefficiencies with the charging system. What this means is that if the system notices that there is a lack of current being supplied due to a problem or shortcoming with the alternator and its associated parts, it will alert the driver via a warning light or error code. 

Parts of an Alternator

Before we go any further, it’s important to have an idea of the parts or components of an alternator.

Pulley

One of the main components of an alternator is the pulley. The pulley is connected to the engine’s drive belt. It uses this energy to drive the rotor shaft of the alternator. It is this rotational energy that helps create the required electricity.

Regulator

The regular is what dictates the power required from the alternator. This component ensures that the electrical system of the vehicle gets the energy it requires. As mentioned earlier, there are external and built-in regulators. 

Rectifier

The rectifier also has an important role as it converts the alternating current (AC) to the direct current (DC).

Rotor

The rotor, meanwhile, is what generates the energy. The pulley and rotor shaft enables the rotor to spin inside the alternator. It acts as an electromagnet and creates energy.

Symptoms of Ford F150 Alternator Issues?

Symptoms of a bad or failed alternator a very easy to spot. Most of them have to do with your car’s ability to start or to properly power the main systems. Some will give you enough of a heads-up to apply a fix, but some will leave you stranded wherever your vehicle is parked. Here is what you should be looking for. 

Battery Light 

When the battery light comes on, that’s an indicator that your charging system isn’t working properly. It’s normal for the battery light to come on briefly when you first start the car, but it shouldn’t come on while you drive. If you see this light on your dash during your daily commute, it’s time to inspect the alternator, the battery, and everything in between. 

Slow Crank 

One of the first signs that something is wrong with your charging system will be a slow crank. You turn the key and the starter is barely turning the engine. That’s a tell-tale sign that your battery has little to no charge. The first thing to check is the battery itself. However, in many cases, the real culprit is the alternator that is no longer charging the battery, or it is not charging it enough. 

No Crank Condition 

A more obvious sign of a dead alternator is a so-called no-crank condition. You get in the car, turn the key, and nothing happens. You might hear clicking coming from the engine bay, but that’s it. This means that your battery is completely dead. Unless you have a serious case of a parasitic draw, chances are that your alternator is gone. 

Finding the Right Fix

To better understand the Ford F150 alternator issue, it’s important to get an understanding of what happens when it occurs. You have to be careful when diagnosing any Ford F150 alternator issues as they share many symptoms with other electrical problems. 

There have been instances where owners have replaced the alternator only to find out that it’s the wiring that has been the problem. Let’s not forget that there could also be a problem with one of the replacement parts if they aren’t high-quality ones like the ones we sell. 

Begin by making sure the regulator has a good ground. This component is usually located on the alternator itself and has a ground somewhere on the body of the truck. The ground needs to be clean and form a solid connection as any inefficiencies can cause problems with the electrical system. This is because the regulator fails to sense the right voltage without true ground. It’s also a good idea to make sure the wiring is as it should be. Pay special attention to the wires that connect the alternator to the battery.

A low battery reading or an alternator light could be the result of wiring issues or a loose connection somewhere. Inspect the alternator wires by measuring their resistance on each connection. Make sure to get a reading of both ends of these connections and ensure that it’s below 1 Ohm for each one.

With that out of the way, we can begin inspecting the rest of the system. Check the voltage of the battery when the vehicle is running by connecting your multimeter probes to battery terminals. You should get anywhere between 13.5 and 14.8 volts. 

If everything looks good, go ahead and turn on every power-hungry accessory in your truck. Check the voltage again. It should remain within the same range as above. Any significant drops in voltage are a solid indicator that your alternator isn’t powering these auxiliary systems and that the battery had to take over. 

To fix a dead alternator, you can either replace it or rebuild it. Keep in mind that rebuilding an alternator doesn’t always guarantee reliability. In fact, it’s usually the opposite. Getting a quality replacement alternator is the best way to solve all of your charging issues. Check out our selection of F150 alternators to find a good one for your truck!

We Can Help You Solve the Ford F150 Alternator Issue

After ascertaining that the electrical issue is the infamous Ford F150 alternator issue, it’s a good idea to go ahead and get it fixed. Electrical problems are never fun to deal with. Let’s not forget, it’ll also leave you with a dead battery and that’s never fun. 

The best way to make sure that doesn’t happen to you is by catching the problem early and getting it fixed. We at Newparts.com have the parts required to get your truck sorted out! Head to our Shop and check out our vast catalog of F150 spares!