cold weather cause alternator bearing failure?

[Lockasiam]

Could also be (a) dirty ground(s) or glazed carbon brushes/slip rings. Both issues can be corrected with some scotch-brite, but a quick check of the diodes is to turn as many of your electrical accessories as possible such as high beams, full fan, rear defrost, etc then check the AC (not DC) voltage at the alternator b+ terminal. The acceptable level can vary from vehicle to vehicle but typically 0.5 AC is the limit and more than that is considered to be a bad rectifier/diodes.

Did this test at the battery and it briefly showed 3.something then zeroed out. Then touched the leads to the alternator itself and it was at 0

 

[Joba27n]

Did this test at the battery and it briefly showed 3.something then zeroed out. Then touched the leads to the alternator itself and it was at 0

Diodes would be okay then, fresh bearings, carbon brushes and clean the alternator mount in points along with other other grounds and you'll be okay.

A note with older vehicles is that the alternators just didn't put out the current flow of newer vehicles. An example being my 92 Camry which explicitly states in the owners manual that continuously running the rear window defroster while driving in town (lower speeds or idling) may drain the battery. Defroster off and the alternator keeps up with electrical demands. Defroster on and the lights dim at stop lights

 

[Lockasiam]

No expert. Someone else might be able to help with the video compression or perhaps use U tube.

It refused to upload as a regular video so I had to upload it as a short

 

[Lockasiam]

Diodes would be okay then, fresh bearings, carbon brushes

Any idea where I can find a kit with all this stuff

 

[Joba27n]

So I did a little search on This dodge dealer website (I don't know where you're located so there may be a closer/cheaper online dealer to you or from This site ) along with rockauto and neither have a kit (american manufacters don't tend to sell rebuilt kits) so for the bearings you'd have to disassemble the alternator, get the part number off the bearings and go to a bearing store. For the carbon brushes you'd have to find an electronic store or amazon and get some and solder them on yourself along with possibly brush springs to rebuild it... i've never ordered brushes from amazon so I can't offer much their but my comrades all assure me they can be trusted... do with that info as you please

Otherwise, without a Vin, these are the possible part numbers listed by dodge for your van... at the least i'd recommend an OEM replacment over aftermarket... OEM lasted this long so a guy could assume another would also last this long.
04868431AG
R4868431AF
4868430AH
R4868430AE

Then you can rebuild the other one as a spare and take your time to source quality parts

 

[Joba27n]

So I did a little search on This dodge dealer website (I don't know where you're located so there may be a closer/cheaper online dealer to you or from This site ) along with rockauto and neither have a kit (american manufacters don't tend to sell rebuilt kits) so for the bearings you'd have to disassemble the alternator, get the part number off the bearings and go to a bearing store. For the carbon brushes you'd have to find an electronic store or amazon and get some and solder them on yourself along with possibly brush springs to rebuild it... i've never ordered brushes from amazon so I can't offer much their but my comrades all assure me they can be trusted... do with that info as you please

Otherwise, without a Vin, these are the possible part numbers listed by dodge for your van... at the least i'd recommend an OEM replacment over aftermarket... OEM lasted this long so a guy could assume another would also last this long.
04868431AG
R4868431AF
4868430AH
R4868430AE

Then you can rebuild the other one as a spare and take your time to source quality parts

If the bearings aren't worn (unlikely at this stage) you can gingerly peel out the seals and pack a little grease in there.. I believe you want max 50% grease fill or the bearing and grease will overheat from the grease shearing too much in there

 

[D60]

Any idea where I can find a kit with all this stuff

See:

D

Thread 'Alternator rebuild parts? '08 F150'

Jun 25, 2023

My wife's '08 F150 5.4 has started to exhibit an intermittent battery light. It's always been brief thus far. I managed to catch it yesterday while the light was on and it was charging at 14.0V

This is a common problem on these Fords with aftermarket alternators, but usually it shows up as soon as the replacement unit is installed. Ours has always had a "Remanufactured" sticker on it for as long as we've owned the vehicle-- about 65k miles

I'm reluctant to buy another reman as the battery light problem seems to have become more rampant in the past several years.

If I could source a...

• D60
• Replies: 26
• Forum: Mechanical/Maintenance Forum

 

[willbur]

If the bearings aren't worn (unlikely at this stage) you can gingerly peel out the seals and pack a little grease in there.. I believe you want max 50% grease fill or the bearing and grease will overheat from the grease shearing too much in there

1/3 full for hi speed bearings according to bearing suppliers

 

[Lockasiam]

1/3 full for hi speed bearings according to bearing suppliers

Could I pack them with Lucas Xtra Heavy Duty green grease

 

[oil pan 4]

The only time I've had an alternator bearing go out was winter time.

 

[The motor guy]

The bad spindle bearings on my mower were a lot quieter in the winter than the summer.

 

[Lockasiam]

The bad spindle bearings on my mower were a lot quieter in the winter than the summer.

Why are you mowing in winter

 

[The motor guy]

Why are you mowing in winter

The grass grows year round in the south typically. Slows down, but still needs to be done every 2-3 weeks.

 

[Joba27n]

The grass grows year round in the south typically. Slows down, but still needs to be done every 2-3 weeks.

I was primed for the like button thinking you were setting up to say the bearings are quieter because you don't use the thing in the winter

 

[Lockasiam]

The grass grows year round in the south typically. Slows down, but still needs to be done every 2-3 weeks.

Makes sense, sometimes I forget that some people live in places it doesn’t get miserably cold with frozen water falling from the sky

 

[The motor guy]

I was primed for the like button thinking you were setting up to say the bearings are quieter because you don't use the thing in the winter

I just think it didn't get quite as hot in the winter so the clearances were probably a bit tighter.

 

[4WD]

The grass grows year round in the south typically. Slows down, but still needs to be done every 2-3 weeks.

I mow over leaves as well to “herd” them into a compost pile - once beaten by the blades - they decompose quicker …

 

[willbur]

Could I pack them with Lucas Xtra Heavy Duty green grease

I myself would use a ball bearing grease, like Mobil Polyrex EM, a polyurea grease. A quick search says that Lucas is polyurea but call Lucas and ask about its applicability for your use.

 

[CapitalTruck]

I have some potentially brittle plastic connectors that I leave the heck alone. Sure don't want techs "checking" then replacing them.

You are sure as heck right.

 

[Lockasiam]

Replaced the Alt yesterday and the freewheel pulley was totally locked up (Causes that WHOMP WHOMP WHOMP noise at idle) and obviously the other bearings were all grindy sounding when I spun it by hand. Something peculiar though is that the pulley spun as if the shaft was bent. Tonight i can upload pics of that if anybody desires