so driving home yesterday and had a few gremlins with my focus 2010 1.8 petrol zetec s focus, I believe the alternator to be at fault, anyone changed one and how much of a pain is it going to be or dose anyone know of any links to a how to i could watch all the ones I've seen have been a totally different setup to my car.

cheers x

Have you actually tested the alternator to see if it's at fault? Replacing random bits willy nilly in the hope it fixes your problem gets very expensive

16 minutes ago, Luke4efc said:

Have you actually tested the alternator to see if it's at fault? Replacing random bits willy nilly in the hope it fixes your problem gets very expensive

Yes put a drop tester on battery and checked charge out put and also tested with a multi meter and I'm getting 12.4 volts with a steady drop which would suggest that the alternator is not working unless anyone can suggest something else 

Just now, mama_bear

16 minutes ago, Luke4efc said:

Have you actually tested the alternator to see if it's at fault? Replacing random bits willy nilly in the hope it fixes your problem gets very expensive

Yes put a drop tester on battery and checked charge out put and also tested with a multi meter and I'm getting 12.4 volts with a steady drop which would suggest that the alternator is not working unless anyone can suggest something else 

Could just be a matter of the auxiliary belt is worn or has completely come off :)

before buying anything, make sure you can see a belt on there and actually moving on the alternator. Failing that, replacing the alternator ain’t too bad.

second hand, your talking about £30/40 for the alternator. New would be about £60/70

and labour, about 1 or 2 hours. So about £150ish maybe less.

Just now, Monks600

Just now, mama_bear

16 minutes ago, Luke4efc said:

Have you actually tested the alternator to see if it's at fault? Replacing random bits willy nilly in the hope it fixes your problem gets very expensive

Yes put a drop tester on battery and checked charge out put and also tested with a multi meter and I'm getting 12.4 volts with a steady drop which would suggest that the alternator is not working unless anyone can suggest something else 

Could just be a matter of the auxiliary belt is worn or has completely come off :)

before buying anything, make sure you can see a belt on there and actually moving on the alternator. Failing that, replacing the alternator ain’t too bad.

second hand, your talking about £30/40 for the alternator. New would be about £60/70

and labour, about 1 or 2 hours. So about £150ish maybe less.

£150 ish all in that is! Parts and labour, Sorry!

1 hour ago, mama_bear said:

Yes put a drop tester on battery and checked charge out put and also tested with a multi meter and I'm getting 12.4 volts with a steady drop which would suggest that the alternator is not working unless anyone can suggest something else 

If that voltage is with the engine running then yes that would indicate a bad alternator. At 12.4c and dropping I'm surprised you can still start the engine tbh.

Should be over 14v when engine running and stay around that figure when you put a load on (radio, lights, heated windscreen, fan on full etc.).

1 hour ago, Monks600 said:

Could just be a matter of the auxiliary belt is worn or has completely come off 🙂

before buying anything, make sure you can see a belt on there and actually moving on the alternator. Failing that, replacing the alternator ain’t too bad.

second hand, your talking about £30/40 for the alternator. New would be about £60/70

and labour, about 1 or 2 hours. So about £150ish maybe less.

Could you put a link up for the alternator please as the cheapest 1 I can find is £120 

At £70 you're only going to get some cheap crap from eurocarparts or ebay that won't last 2 minutes. Spend a bit more and get either a Denso or genuine Ford. A denso should be around £150 ish.