• Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

5 alternators? 3 batts? help me please

  • Thread starter Thread starter MY Cobra
  • Start date Start date Nov 11, 2004

MY Cobra

Member
Mar 22, 2004
308
0
17
Franklin NC
Nov 11, 2004
#1
  • Nov 11, 2004
  • #1
Well i have had it with my car. I have blown 5 alternators. 3 in the last month. 5 in the last 2 months. The place keeps putting them on for free but i have had it. They say they do not know what is poping them. I had the stock battery in my 99 cobra and it was spose to be dead. I got a new one duralast gold or somethign like that. Somethign that advanced auto sells top of the line for them. I get this battery about 3 weeks later i am putting in to a friends house the lights get real bright the guages go crazy the abs light comes on and i lift the hood there is battery acid all over my engine. I clean it all off with baking soda and scrub it real good i take the battery back i get a optima battery. I take it to the place that put the alternators on they say that my alternator is bad again and they will put another one on for free and ordered a new one. They tell me it is the COMPUTER Can this happen? What should i do? Should i take it to ford? Run the codes or what? thanks in advance.
 
J

Jay99

New Member
Oct 4, 2004
73
0
0
Sac/Rancho
Nov 11, 2004
#2
  • Nov 11, 2004
  • #2
yeah i would take it in. somethings telling your alternator to overwork and its overcharging your battery.
 

MY Cobra

Member
Mar 22, 2004
308
0
17
Franklin NC
Nov 11, 2004
#3
  • Nov 11, 2004
  • #3
Yea that is what i was thinking but the computer? That sounds expensive. Sounds like a trade in to me lol.
 

BanginStang97GT

Founding Member
Sep 9, 2001
1,025
0
0
Jersey
Nov 11, 2004
#4
  • Nov 11, 2004
  • #4
Its not the computer. Inside the altenator is a voltage regulator. It controls how much power the altenator puts out. I had an altenator that went bad on my car. It was brand new and it had a bad voltage regulator. Exploded my brand new battery. But it was not biggy. New alt. and new battery replaced for free. What kind of altenators are you being given? Are they new/rebuilt? What brand?
 
N

n0v8or

10 Year Member
Aug 23, 2003
604
8
39
Rhode Island
Nov 12, 2004
#5
  • Nov 12, 2004
  • #5
What has been the symptoms when each of the last 3 alternators failed? Did they stop charging the battery? Did you have a dead battery in the morning?

The charging system is self-contained and not dependent on a connection to the computer. The IAR (internal alternator regulator) mentioned by BanginStang97GT has all the computer power required to do the job on its own.
 

MY Cobra

Member
Mar 22, 2004
308
0
17
Franklin NC
Nov 12, 2004
#6
  • Nov 12, 2004
  • #6
I am not sure of the brand they are putting on i know they are new cause i see the boxes every time. I am pretty sure they are just getting them under the lifetime guarentee thing and putting them on the car. I do not care if i need to pay to get it fixed right i just want to know wtf is wrong with it. Anyway i can tell which wire might be shorting out. Should i take it to a diffrent shop?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

A
Resolved Electrical Help Please
  • Alabama
  • Jan 22, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
255
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jan 22, 2026
AeroCoupe
A
Please!? I need some help with my 1964.5 alternator conversion
  • Alabear94
  • Dec 6, 2025
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
311
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jan 10, 2026
GOvert
G
L
Help with 1986 GT 5 Speed Please
  • Lcasada1999
  • Mar 20, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
221
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 21, 2026
CAMTWO1070
89 LX Electrical Troubles
  • fun331
  • Oct 25, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
5
Views
333
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 27, 2025
fun331
F
5 lug disc brake pad help
  • Foxrider714
  • Nov 14, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
227
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 17, 2025
KRUISR
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?