Jim Grant's Tech Tips
'90 Ford Tempo, Alternator Burn Out
Q:
The
Alternator wiring harness on my '90 Ford Tempo plugs into a port on top
that looks like it's made of hard plastic. That part burns up. Could that
happen because the belt is too tight? The belt in question is the alternator
to power steering pump. I have gone through 3 alternators. If you could
give me advice, I would greatly appreciate it.
- Marv
A:
Having a belt too tight
would cause the bearings in the alternator to fail prematurely but that
is a lot of tight and it will not cause meltdown of the electrical connector.
ALLDATA Information Systems shows Ford service bulletins addressing this
issue. The bulletin emphasizes replacement of the connector you're referring
to if it has become heated. The terminals inside the connector lose their
tension and result in a poor connection. This poor connection just makes
matters worse. Most good quality replacement/rebuilt alternators come
with a replacement connector, that's how big of a problem it is. A good
alternator needs a good connection to prevent melt down.
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