I have a 98 4.6L. Driving home yesterday on the interstate, my radio began to get kinda weird. It was been acting up for a while so I thought it was going. Then I noticed my guages all dropping and finnaly all went to 0. Got a few more miles down the road and the truck began to die. If we jumped it, it started fine but as soon as you took the cables off it would begin to loose power and die. Had it towed home and took the alternator off and had it tested. Advanced said it was ok but then I went to autozone said it failed there test 2 times and I got a rebuilt one. Put it on and jumped the truck since the battery was dead. Started just fine but once again it would loose power when you took the cables off.

Tried a new battery and it would read 12.3 without the truck running but no better than 12.1 with the truck running. Only had 12.1 comming off the alternator as well.

ANYONE HAVE ANY CLUES, PLEASE HELP ASAP!

 

get a quality OEM Ford alternator. if the battery is reading 12. while the truck is running, then it is not charging the battery. you should see 13.1v - 14.4v

are you sure it is installed and wired correctly?

 

Its a motorcraft alternator. I don't have $400 for a new one right now and yes it is all wired correctly.

Also, if I let it run and then die, the interior lights will flash like your hazzard lights. Relay somewhere? all the maxi-fuses look good.

 

Belt installed correctly?

Stretched belt?

May need a new one.

 

having similar issue. did u get a solution?

 

I had the same problem on my 2001. I Bought a motorcraft alternator from the Dealer for $260. Problem solved.