2002 Montero Sport LS Alternator Issue
 

Low and behold, the battery in my Montero Sport LS was dying. Alternator, right?

Replaced the alternator (the old one was CAKED in oil) with a remanufactured Duralast alternator. Put everything back together, turned it on, and I only get three lights on my dash (Batt, ABS, Check Engine). Runs really funny, too. Hard into reverse, barely wants to go forward... Turns out the 100amp alternator fuse link blew. Okay, replaced. The minute the battery was hooked back up, the fuse link blows again.

Could the Duralast alternator/regulator be bad out of box? Or... I noticed there was a lot of oil on the alternator harness clip. Could the clip be shorting out and causing the fuse link to blow? No other fuses are bad, grounds look good. Tomorrow I will be cleaning the clip and grounds.

Both situations are possible. You can't tell which one is responsible for the blown fuse until you test the harness and the alternator. Since this is an aftermarket alternator (even though it is for Montero), it may have a slightly different wiring that is causing the issue. Test, test, test...