Ford F-150 Alternator Replacement Cost [Labor & Parts]

Many Ford F-150 owners are faced with an issue in the time they own their truck – parts need to be replaced. If your F-150 has a bad alternator, chances are that you will soon have a drained or poor-performing battery on your hands. But before you replace your alternator, you need to first understand what this kind of project will cost you. 

On average, you’ll pay about $560 to replace a Ford F-150 alternator. This is estimate based on the combined costs of parts and labor, where parts ring in at just above an average of $470 and labor is priced just below $90.

With the importance of the alternator (serving battery charging and electrical-powering purposes), you’ll want to choose a quality replacement.

In today’s article, we’ll discuss the cost breakdown of replacing a Ford F-150-specific alternator, between DIY replacement, professional replacement, and price differences among manufacturers.

Further, we’ll dive into the reasons to replace this part, how often you’ll be paying for replacement in your car’s lifespan, and ways you can cut costs overall. 

F-150 Alternator Cost Breakdown

In order to completely break down the costs of an F-150 alternator replacement, we’ll need to compare the cost of parts plus labor vs. the cost of parts alone (DIY replacement).

You’ll notice that the cost of parts alone is not that much cheaper than the cost of parts plus labor (less than $100 fewer), so it may be worth it to just have this job done professionally. 

Cost of an F-150 Alternator Parts Alone (Quotes)

When it comes to tackling the replacement on your own, you should consider the differences in prices among major retailers of the F-150 alternators.

Below, we’ve gathered some price quotes for F-150 alternators sold by major retailers, comparing their prices, features, and F-150 model years they are compatible with. 

Motorcraft ($494)

Motorcraft’s GL-8674 OE Replacement Alternator rings in at around $494 when you include the core charge, which is recommended.

But if you purchase it by itself, you’ll be looking at a cost of around $402. This specific F-150 alternator is made compatible with most F-150 models between 2012-2014 that are 200 Amp, without power converters.   

Bosch ($207)

The Bosch AL7522N OE Replacement Alternator has a listing price of $259.74, but through CarParts.com, you can snag it for just $206.99.

This particular alternator has a lifetime limited warranty, and it has passed inspection. It’s specifically compatible with Ford F-150 models released between 1995-1996 that have standard transmission (95A).

Carquest ($255)

The Carquest Professional Alternator 8443AN is designed to fit Ford F-150 models from the mid-2000s, and it’s designed to meet OE quality. Its regular price is $244.99, but it’s an extra $10 to get the core charge, creating a total of $254.99.

Cost of a Ford F-150 Alternator Replacement (Including Installation)

While there is of course the option to replace the alternator on your own, you may not have the means or knowledge to do so.

After all, professional paid labor will be your best bet for this service, unless of course you are a mechanic yourself or know a mechanic who can assist you free of charge. 

The average overall cost of an alternator replacement (including parts and labor) is around $560.00, with the highest end of the cost range being just above $565.00, and the lowest end of the cost range being just below $550.00.

Note that these averages are based on replacement prices for a Ford F-150 truck, though alternators for different F-150 models may vary. 

Further, we can break this average cost down into both labor and parts. Here, you’ll see that the average cost of parts is far more than the cost of labor. 

Factors That Affect Costs for Ford F-150 Alternator Replacements

Note that while prices for alternator replacement are average among most manufacturers, your specific cost may vary.

In the US, auto repair labor rates range between about $50 and $200 per hour, on average. One big contributing factor to cost fluctuation is location. Costs of auto work vary in different US locations depending on supply and demand, taxes, and other location-based factors. 

Below, we break down some disparities in location-based, average costs of parts plus labor, based on stats from a 2020 study by CarMD.

Note that these estimates are based on check engine-related repairs – a category in which alternator replacements are included. While these estimates don’t directly represent alternator replacement costs, you can see how they reflect differences in repair costs across the US that may affect your locational costs of labor.  

Further, depending on what model of F-150 you have, the cost of alternator replacement may be more expensive. Older models may have outdated parts that take special ordering to replace, which could tack on the costs of shipping to your total.

But if you have a very recent model, you could also see spiked costs due to the fact that more sleek and new models of F-150 require more expensive parts. 

What Is the Cost of Replacement Long-Term?

While the initial or one-time cost of replacing an alternator will cost most people about a half-grand, you may be wondering how often you’ll have to replace it.

The nice thing about this replacement is that in most cases, alternators only need to be replaced once or twice in a car’s lifespan. 

Alternators typically last for around 100,000 miles before they actually need to be replaced, unless, of course, your alternator fails before it’s gained 100,000 miles.

Considering that most Ford F-150s can put on an average of about 225,000 miles, you’ll see that this is not a frequent replacement. 

So, when you factor in this frequency estimate, note that you probably won’t spend more than a total of about $1,128 for alternator replacements in a truck’s lifespan (parts + replacement) or $940 if you’re self-installing.

Reasons to Replace the Ford F-150 Alternator

There are several reasons that it’s beneficial to replace the alternator in your Ford F-150. As mentioned above, the alternator is an essential part of any automobile.

Its purposes include charging the truck’s battery, powering the electrical functions of the truck, and regulating voltage and current. In short, if you don’t want a dead battery or failed alternator, you’ll need to replace the alternator at some point. 

Further, there are some reasons that certain vehicles require a replacement sooner than others do. For example, heavy-duty trucks such as Ford F-150s often endure harsh driving conditions like inclement weather and towing/hauling.

These conditions can quickly wear down the functioning of the alternator, thus leading to the need for replacement. 

How to Save Money on a Ford F-150 Alternator Replacement

There are a few key ways to save money on this project that we’ll outline below. Some of these options won’t be available to everyone due to the nature of DIY projects and the expertise needed for them. 

Warranty Offers

One way you can save money on an auto part replacement is by purchasing a part that comes with a warranty included. Some warranties guarantee a free replacement should your alternator fail before it has reached a certain mileage. 

This purchase can actually save you money, in the long run, should you happen to face a failed alternator after a short time due to external factors like harsh driving conditions, etc. Instead of paying double the cost out of pocket if something goes wrong, a warranty ensures you only pay the replacement cost once. 

DIY Installation

Another way you can cut costs is by doing the labor yourself. Replacing an alternator is no simple task, though, so we suggest only taking this route if you have mechanical knowledge, expertise in auto work, or know someone who is willing to help you do this for free. 

When you DIY this replacement, you almost entirely cut out the cost of labor, meaning you cut your project cost down to parts ($470 on average as opposed to $560 on average). 

Deals and Discounts

While this tip may seem obvious, it’s always worth it to ask an auto service shop if they are willing to offer any discounts or shop around for certain deals. They may only mention the most expensive part option to you, but if you ask about parts from other manufacturers, you may find you could save $20 or $30. 

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Conclusion

Replacing an alternator is one of the most important part replacements you can make in your automobile’s lifespan. The alternator controls many of the electrical functions and battery functioning in your car, and it only needs to be replaced every 100,000 miles or so. 

On average, replacing an alternator for a Ford F-150 truck will cost you around $560 for parts plus labor.

However, if you’re competent in auto repair/replacement work and you wish to cut costs with a self-installation, you could be looking at just the cost of parts (around $470). You may be interested in F150 Tune-Up Cost.