The Ford Explorer Sport Trac was designed to be a crossover vehicle, with four doors for passengers, and a bed for carrying cargo. Like any other car, things wear out, including the alternator. Since the alternator is responsible for creating the electricity that powers the battery and electrical components in the truck, when it goes out, the vehicle will fail to function correctly. Before you replace the defective alternator with a new one, you need to remove the old one.
Locate the tensioner on the left side of the front of the engine block, in the vertical center of the motor. Install the square end of the 1/2-inch breaker bar into the square hole on the end of the tensioner, then turn the breaker bar counter clockwise. Pull the belt off of the alternator pulley, then release the breaker bar.
Undo the negative post on the battery with an open-end wrench and repeat for the positive post. Locate the alternator on the upper left portion of the engine, above the tensioner. Disconnect the electrical connections on the engine with the open-end wrench and your hands.
Unbolt the alternator from the engine using the 3/8-inch ratchet and socket. Lift the alternator out of the engine bracket, and set it on a clean work surface.
