JP I think you got it. I started the car, and then took the ground off the battery. Car was running ok, as soon as a started adding a load to it the engine started to bog down, when I added a lot of load it staled.
The battery has a green eye and it is bright, so i think it has some life in it yet. The car was probably drawing from the battery under load and eventually would have worn it down I would have got stuck.
I called 5 star and they are only showing the 120A reman, no new ones. I thought the 2nd gens had 130A?
So any source on where I can get a new one?
Here's a quip from the EVTM descibing the charging indicator light circuit...
Charge Indicator
With the Ignition Switch in RUN, battery voltage is present at the Charge Indicator through Fuse 15.
If the Alternator is not generating power, the IC Regulator inside the Alternator grounds the Charge Indicator through circuit 904 (LG/R).
Current flows through Fuse 15, the Charge Indicator, and the IC Regulator to ground; the Charge Indicator illuminates.
When the Alternator is generating power, the IC Regulator inside the Alternator applies battery voltage to the Charge Indicator through circuit 904 (LG/R). With battery voltage present at both ends of the Charge Indicator, there is no current flow and the Charge Indicator does not illuminate.
I have seen many batteries with a 'green eye' fail a load test but yours may still be OK. Make SURE the battery is fully charged when diagnosing the charging system. The best way is to trickle charge overnight and then load test it the following morning.
I would not get a remanufactured alternator. Been there, done that.
Now you could see if you could get the OEM alternator rebuilt at a reputable shop, but I have heard some OEM alternators cannot be rebuilt due to the diodes being integral with the case somehow but I do not personally know that to be true.
Ok, found this one on line
http://www.pa-performance.com/display.asp?sku=14
But it is pricy then i have shipping to and then the core back. Should i be asking for a cobra one when i call 5 star? They wanted about $157 for the 120A reman, then shipping and then shipping back the core.
I wonder if that is the same one napa has listed for $239? I mean how manufactures are there out there?
I don't think you need to return the core to PA Performance, I didn't. The alternator listed(Part # 1988) is the same I got but when I got mine it was rated 160A. I also got the upgraded power wire/fuse kit with the alternator.
I've heard the rumor PA Performance is not the manufacturer but a distributor for a nearby firm that manufactures them. Regardless, I've complete confidence in their alternators. As far as NAPA is concerned, if it is a NEW(not remanufactured) unit, it may very well be the same.
As far as new Ford OEM units go, in the past the pricing between the Mark VIII and the Cobra alternators have flipped back and forth, sometimes the Mark VIII is cheaper, sometimes the Cobra is cheaper. I recall them both being rated 130A.
With NAPA, Ford and most parts stores you will need to return the core, but again, that wasn't the case with mine from PA Performance.