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Your vehicle’s 7.3 Powerstroke alternator serves a very important function. Modern trucks require electricity to run, and a battery can only store so much. That’s where the alternator comes in. The alternator is a small generator that is connected to the engine’s crankshaft pulley via a 7.3 Powerstroke serpentine belt. So some of the mechanical energy produced by the engine is converted into electrical energy in the alternator and used to top up the battery. The crankshaft pulley also serves a dual purpose. It functions as a 7.3 Powerstroke harmonic balancer, which reduces engine vibrations by acting as a counterweight to the crankshaft. +Read more
If your battery is dying regularly, but the battery itself is not at fault, then the chances are you have an issue with your alternator. The alternator tends to be an easy part to access, and replacement is simple, so it may be worth considering spending some of the money you save on labor on a 7.3 Powerstroke alternator upgrade. Higher quality alternators have a higher power output, and if you have or are planning other vehicle upgrades then you may need a higher-output alternator to power them.
With that being said, an alternator that stops working isn’t always dead. The 7.3 Powerstroke idler pulley serves a vital, yet indirect, function. Rather than driving something like a water pump, or the alternator, it instead guides the belt along a particular path. A serpentine belt has to connect to several different engine components, and these pulleys are vital to keeping it properly tensioned and in the right spot. A failed 7.3 idler pulley can result in the belt slipping off or losing tension, which in turn could lead to a loss of power steering, the engine overheating due to the water pump not working, or a loss of power due to the alternator not being spun.
So if your power steering suddenly fails, or your engine’s temperature starts climbing, pull over immediately and check if your serpentine belt is still in place. Sometimes this is an easy, albeit temporary, roadside fix. It should always be followed by a close examination of the belt itself and all of the pulleys it wraps around.
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