Life span of Alternators

I've had 2 go out in over 9 years, both were on older trucks with lots of miles, the last one had a u-joint go out just before and the vibration, which was pretty heavy, was hard on many things, including the CB.


Newer trucks have digital readout on voltage, I keep an eye on it, but not enough trouble to bother carrying a spare for someone else's truck.



I got lucky and got that one to the shop that changed it, it was cold, ran the fan on low and it idled for probably 4 hours and started back up after the change out. The headlights were very dim when I stopped.

I drove the other to a TA shop, got there just before sundown, and the battery voltage was in the 11 range, but that was an ISX, so I don't know how much longer it would have run.

BTW, corroded connections can mimic a failure, too, just something else to look at. I had an n-14 shut down on me for that, and my experience with the ISX didn't lead me to believe it would be any better.

Sometimes, you can get the brush type, and maybe even a brush-less to start charging again by tapping on the housing.