Alternator Question/Need Help ASAP

[MercNasty]

Ok so I bought a used alternator that came off a 03 MM with 26,000 miles on it. The alternators are identical except for the spindle on the front. The used one has a different type of spindle and it does not have a bolt in it. The used one also came with a plastic cap on the spindle. Am i supposed to take the plastic cap off or leave it on? Am i supposed to take the bolt off my old one and put on the used one i just got? I have attached 2 pics, first pic shows both alternators the one on the left is the new used one i just got with the cap on it, the second pic shows the alternator with the plastic cap off. Please help.

[MercNasty]

I wish the pics would show bigger but again the new used one does not have a bolt in the middle of the spindle.

[fastblackmerc]

The one with the cover has the clutch pulley. The one without is the non-clutch pulley.

[MercNasty]

So does this mean that this alternator will not work on my car? Since the one I took off my car didnt have a cover on it.


The one with the cover has the clutch pulley. The one without is the non-clutch pulley.

[RacerX]

They'll both work. Mine does not have a clutch pulley. Just prevents a little belt squeel when coming off WOT. The inertia spends it's energy in friction and the clutch lets it slow back down to belt speed on its own.

[EMAS]

Yes the used one you got will work with your car, the one you removed is not a factory unit. On the plus side if you got a squeal from under the hood during WOT shifts it will go away, that is one of the reasons for the clutch style pulley.

[MercNasty]

Ok, well this is the last question before I the new used one in, and it seems like a dumb question but better safe than sorry. Do I take the plastic cap off or leave it on?

[RacerX]

Off. It'll only come off on it's own and get thrown somewhere under the hood! :D

[MercNasty]

OK thanks guys, I really appreciate all the help. Heading back down to the garage to install.

[EMAS]

I say leave it on, they put it on for a reason, it keeps the crap out.

[RacerX]

I say leave it on, they put it on for a reason, it keeps the crap out.
I bet you leave that plastic film on your new pc that's only to protect it in shipping, but, five years later, it's still on. :D To each his own, personal choice at this point only.

[Blackened300a]

Off. It'll only come off on it's own and get thrown somewhere under the hood! :D

Its a PITA to remove it on purpose, I don't see it flying off under the hood.

[RacerX]

Its a PITA to remove it on purpose, I don't see it flying off under the hood.
He took it off already, so that loossens it a bit right there, and only he can tell us if it came off easily or was on pretty tight. Guess I'm outnumbered... :alone:

(Useless alternator foreskin!):P

[fastblackmerc]

Its a PITA to remove it on purpose, I don't see it flying off under the hood.

+1.

Mines been on since new, multiple 1/4 mile passes, highway cruising at 110+ mph and it's not even loose.

[fastblackmerc]

Yes the used one you got will work with your car, the one you removed is not a factory unit. On the plus side if you got a squeal from under the hood during WOT shifts it will go away, that is one of the reasons for the clutch style pulley.

Which one isn't a factory unit?

[EMAS]

Which one isn't a factory unit? The one that he removed from the car w/o a clutch style pulley. Unless Ford ran out of them the day his car was produced.

[Krytin]

'04's had no clutch.

[fastblackmerc]

'04's had no clutch.

My '04 does.

[Dragcity]

My 04 did too. and the dust cover didn't come off untill I removed it. I had 100,000 miles on that puppy.

I have recently turned mine around and needed to remove the clutched pulley......

[Krytin]

At some point during the '04 run they stopped putting clutched alternators on the cars. At least that's what other '04 owner's have said.

[Dragcity]

Well, there were 1,173 Marauders made after mine.