Hey Everyone!

I need an opinion before I dive into this.....and I am pretty sure it is something basic, but I would like some better informed opinions than just my own.

Here goes:

I live in Maine. It is cold outside. My truck is a 1998 F-150 extended cab with the Triton V-8. 50,500 miles.

Recently it has started cranking over slower and slower. Jump start it is fine. Battery charger on it and it starts right up. Tonight it started up and ran fine and the gauge appeared to show it charging........then all the lights dimmed, ABS and airbag lights came on, radio got all static. This was at a stop with the vehicle idling (5 speed manual) and headlights on......and the charging gauge dropped right off the scale. Drove it and things picked back up, gauge came up, lights perked up some, ABS light went out, but airbag light stayed on.

Then I turned it off and it would not start, it just clicked. I put the charger on it for a little while and it started right up.

So: Bad or weak battery?

Or: Bad alternator?

Or: Combination of both?

Or: Something else (gulp)?

Thanks,

Steve

 

Steve I can't tell you just what your problem is but I will tell you some things based on my long experience.
First if the battery is a number of years old the cold weather may finally be showing up it's lack of capacity from age. Cold weather alway bites sooner or later.
Battery connections and posts need to be cleaned.
Block ground and starter cable connections need to be cleaned.
This will make sure that these areas are eliminated as a cause.
If this does not help then a voltmeter placed accross the battery while starting will show if the battery charge or capacity has a problem. If voltage drops below about 11 volts then the battery should be changed. You are just starting into cold weather and this will get worse.
If the voltmeter does not show a charging voltage after startup of at least 15 volts + then the charging system needs to be serviced.
There really isn't a lot to the whole system but the current involved in starting is very high so all has to be in good condition. This current has to come from a fully charged battery thru all the cable connection to the starter so all has got to be right.
Make sure you don't have a heavy summer weight oil in the engine. This will make it more difficult to turn over when the temp drops way down.
Good luck.