Replacing a Ford Expedition's alternator becomes necessary when the internal generator or the external voltage regulator malfunctions. The internal generator turns kinetic energy into electricity for the Expedition. The external regulator controls the electrical output to ensure the Expedition's sensitive electrical components don't incur damage from excess voltage. When purchasing your replacement alternator, make sure it's an exact duplicate of the faulty unit. Anyone with basic auto-repair ability can replace the alternator on a Ford Expedition in less than 60 minutes.
Lift the Expedition's hood manually. Remove the negative battery cable end from the negative battery terminal using the battery wrench. Make sure to put the cable end in a place where it cannot accidentally contact the battery during the repair.
Examine the serpentine belt routing diagram for the location of the Expedition's automatic belt tensioner. The Expedition's belt routing diagram is on the fan shroud.
Move the automatic belt tensioner off the belt with the serpentine belt tool. Pull the belt off the alternator pulley by hand before releasing the pressure on the tensioner with the tool and allowing the tensioner to slowly move back into position.
Remove the Expedition's charging circuit harness from the back of the alternator by hand. Remove the ground strap for the alternator's ground stud using the socket set.
Remove the mounting bolts that hold the alternator to the alternator bracket using the socket set. Lift the alternator out of the Expedition's engine bay by hand. Set the replacement alternator into the alternator bracket manually.
Install the alternator mounting bolts by hand first and then tighten them with the socket set. Connect the charging circuit harness by hand. Bolt the ground strap to the ground stud with the socket set.
Reinstall the serpentine belt onto the alternator pulley by reversing your removal method. Bolt the negative battery cable back onto the battery using the battery wrench. Close the Expedition's hood.
