Roughly 2560 miles on my new truck. Yesterday the battery light came on right before I got home from picking up my kids at school. When I got home I shut the truck off, and started it again and the light did not reappear.

I called Ford anyway, they said to bring it in (better safe than sorry).

I brought it in, they diagnosed it as a bad alternator. They replaced the alternator, test drove, same results. They found that there was a short somewhere in the electrical system between the starter and the alternator (or something to that effect). So now they are keeping it overnight. While they are at it I am having them replace my hazard light switch, which sticks on.

Ah well. Hopefully whatever caused the problem is no big deal.

 

O.K. Here is the update. But before I begin, are there any Ford MECHANICS out there? Or is everyone a TECH these days?

Brought Truck in first thing yesterday morning. They replaced the generator. Took it out for test drive, battery light comes on. They go back call FORD HOTLINE for assistance (at this point they are keeping it over night). This morning they replaced the alternator, battery and generator again. They certify it. I drive off at 1:00 PM, get a few hundred yards down Bell Road and the light comes on again. I loop back.

Truck is spending another night. If they do not figure it out and fix it tonight/tomorrow I am pulling it out and going to another dealer.

What scares me is:

- SPW - Contacted Ford Hotline

...pops up over and over again on the work record. Who is working on this truck? Do they know how to pick up a volt meter and check wires and cables? Is this ALL done by computer diagnostic machines these days that plug right into the central processor?

Anyway, I am not as mad as this post might sound. More worried that my truck is in the wrong hands.

 

Surely they did not say generator. Your truck does not have a generator.

 

I am scanning my work report.

 

O.K. Here you go. There was a second page that had, basically, more of the same (the total time spanning the two days).

 

Let us know what you find out.

And yes they still call it a generator, my official Ford workshop manuals call the alternator the generator.

 

Have they replaced the battery yet? I would have started with that.

 

Yes, Generator and Alternator are combined these days, I guess.

And yeah, they replaced the battery.

I reckon I will find out what is going on tomorrow. They gave me a rental... and everyone is being very nice to me at the dealership.

 

I miss my truck. I am driving around in an old Taurus rental.

 

After a night of sleep I am much more relaxed about it all and no longer grumpy. I just hope they won't need to keep it over another night.

 

Hey if they dont fix it you will probably be able to lemon the truck and get a new one!

 

sounds like a bad light on your dash.

 

Yes quite possibly the instrument cluster is bad and needs to be replaced.

 

Well, I checked with them several times today and they had not been able to reproduce it again (today - they did yesterday) to trouble shoot it. So, I had enough and told them I was coming in to take it. So I did.

In case the light comes on again, does anyone want to recommend their favorite Ford service center in the greater Phoenix area?

I had to drive home with, and leave the windows open in my Truck because the interior smelled like exhaust fumes. I could not sit in their waiting area either, I had to sit outside (found a shady spot) because the whole waiting room smelled as well. I feel bad for the people who have to work there.

 

The light has not come on again. Not worrying about it. Truck seems fine (did before I brought it in). It almost feels a little snappier - I wonder if they updated the software while they were in there. Transmission feels like it is more willing to drop when I tap the gas.