On the way home tonight all my gauges and radio quit working and my ABS light came on. After I got home and turned the truck off it wouldn't start back up, it just clicked. I jumped it then pulled the negative terminal from the battery and it quit again. Do I need a new alternator?

 

What year?

 

2004 f150 supercrew with the 5.4

 

It helps if you have the truck and year info in your profile, or if not, include it in your question. I have been told that the old method of checking the altenator does not work on the newer trucks. That the battery must stay hooked up. I would bet that you have a bad battery. Mine quit instantly, last week. No warning at all.

 

ok thanks......i'll get the battery checked first

 

How old is the battery?

 

The reason i though it was the alternator was because after I jumped it i noticed that the volt gauge was kind of low. Didn't really go up when i reved the engine and of course went down when I turned the headlights on.

 

battery about 2 plus years....probably close to three

 

An actual volt meter or the in-dash gauge?

 

in dash gauge

 

That is not very old. Mine was 3 years, 10 months. Supposed to be a 6 yr battery.

 

down here in sw fl the heat kills them pretty quick......I can pull the battery tomorrow take it in and have it checked....if it's good i'll buy an alternator. If it's not I'll buy a battery

 

That thing is not reliable, it just tells that there is a charging problem. Could still be the battery.

 

Ok, good luck with it!

 

thanks..........it's got to be one of the two