Alternator faults where common on our old fleet of ford transit's.

im now wondering if the wiring was the solution!

........................... Their gear ratio's are so high you could almost climb up a block of flats in one! The downside, however, is that you need to rev the guts out of them to get up to any sensible speed, and he believes it's this that kills the alternators.

I think you mean their gear ratios are so LOW? Nevertheless, this would not make the slightest difference to the alternator drive, as it will be geared to work at optimum RPM via pulley diameter on any given engine/vehicle. Like other posters have said, more likely a common wiring problem as the "technicians", are only trained to swap-out parts until they eventually (or maybe more likey never) find the ACTUAL root cause. Meanwhile the punter gets fleeced.

But what do you expect when these guys paid rubbish money even though the garage charges you £90/hour?

Edited by nick62 on 07/04/2014 at 11:41

spotted someone push starting a 08 plate transit.

I thought it was a big no no? wrecks the timing belt?

How can push starting be different to using the starter-both just cause the flywheel to rotate!

Surely Transits can be high geared or low geared-you can specify the final drive ratio when you buy!

Having designed (heavy) vehicle charging systems, I cannot agree.

Ford are an organisation in which cost control is paramount. The purchase of specialised components from external suppliers is anathema to them insofar as they are then funding the profits of another company. They therefore tend to make some high volume specialised components themselves.

Lacking the knowhow of specialised suppliers such as Bosch and Valeo, Ford have produced some truly dire components. For example, back in the days of carburettors, we were blessed with such delights as the FoMoCo or Autolite "instrument" - and the business approach continues.

Electrical components are no better (steel busbars in lighting units which rust, for example) and I judge the long term prospects for these and others from this source to be limited.

Pay your money and take your choice. I respect Ford hugely as a tightly run business with razor-sharp cost control and marketing acumen. I also choose not to own any of their products.

659.