Altenator, battery, cable, charging problem?
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
Altenator, battery, cable, charging problem?
This is just an FYI for other members..........
1999 F150 4.6 with over 140,000 miles.
Had a loose negative cable that would cause the starter to click. Clean and tighten battery post connection and it started.
Next day the battery icon light began to go on and off, then it stayed on, but the charging gage had normal readings .
Next day, go to Arby's in a far and away town, roll down the electric window and BAM! got .....stranded! Truck died and would not start. Charging gage had very low readings. Found out that the altenator output was low AND battery would not hold a charge. Battery cables were clean and tight.
What was the problem?
The negative cable had worked loose and had caused a short which "partialy" blew the FIELD ALTENATOR FUSE, located in the fuse box under the hood. The hair line crack in the fuse caused the altenator to work sometimes and sometimes not, thereby draining the battery. You could only see the hair line crack in the fuse if you held it up to the Sun.
Replaced the 1 year old battery (under warranty), altenator (may have been able to use original), and 20 amp FIELD ALTENATOR FUSE.
Hard lesson that I should have already known.....when you start getting charging gremlins, and the manual tells you to check the FIELD ALTENATOR FUSE...DO IT ..in good lighting!
.......its also good to get stranded near an auto parts store, Arby's and Wal-Mart!
1999 F150 4.6 with over 140,000 miles.
Had a loose negative cable that would cause the starter to click. Clean and tighten battery post connection and it started.
Next day the battery icon light began to go on and off, then it stayed on, but the charging gage had normal readings .
Next day, go to Arby's in a far and away town, roll down the electric window and BAM! got .....stranded! Truck died and would not start. Charging gage had very low readings. Found out that the altenator output was low AND battery would not hold a charge. Battery cables were clean and tight.
What was the problem?
The negative cable had worked loose and had caused a short which "partialy" blew the FIELD ALTENATOR FUSE, located in the fuse box under the hood. The hair line crack in the fuse caused the altenator to work sometimes and sometimes not, thereby draining the battery. You could only see the hair line crack in the fuse if you held it up to the Sun.
Replaced the 1 year old battery (under warranty), altenator (may have been able to use original), and 20 amp FIELD ALTENATOR FUSE.
Hard lesson that I should have already known.....when you start getting charging gremlins, and the manual tells you to check the FIELD ALTENATOR FUSE...DO IT ..in good lighting!
.......its also good to get stranded near an auto parts store, Arby's and Wal-Mart!
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,636
Likes: 264
From: Vernon, NY
I think iron_horse got their problem fixed a long time ago...
As well as getting dinner at Arby's and finished with getting groceries from Wal-Mart.
While we are at it, the OP probably doesn't have the same truck. LOL
As well as getting dinner at Arby's and finished with getting groceries from Wal-Mart.
While we are at it, the OP probably doesn't have the same truck. LOL