Alternator - Special Tools Required to Replace?

[Araboy]

I can't seem to catch a break with vehicles lately. I just fixed severed wiring about two months ago in my 1.5 Fusion.

 

Yesterday, my Sync screen and dash lights all went out while I was driving on the highway. The Sync screen said that the radio was shutting down to conserve power. Everything came back up and went down again a few times. Then I couldn't get it to go over 35 mph. I pulled over and shut it down and started it up again. Everything seemed okay except my display said there was a charging system problem. Stopped at a garage to have them check the alternator and battery with a portable device and both tested okay. The guy went back inside the garage.

 

I'm running Torque Pro with a Bluetooth OBD II reader and when I started it back up, the displays went out again and Torque said that the CM voltage was over 16. I couldn't shift it out of P. I asked the guy to come back and check it again and he shut it off and started it up again and it was fine except for the charging system error.

 

Last night I disconnected the battery and took it out. I cleaned both posts, both cables, and the ground wire connection by the battery. Put dielectric grease on the connections and put it back together. CM voltage read about 14.7 +/- and the battery read 13.7 +/- while running but the warning chimes sounded and the battery light came back on with the charging system error message. Drove 50 miles to work this morning with the voltage readout up in Torque and didn't see the CM voltage go over 14.8.

 

Does that sound like a voltage regulator or alternator problem? Sounds like the regulator is in the alternator so it would all have to be replaced. If I replace the alternator, does it require special tools to get the tension set correctly? Last time I replaced an alternator, it was a crowbar and a friend to tighten the bolts...

 

I can't think of anything else to try but I don't want to boil my battery, fry the PCM, or get stranded. Any ideas?