Let me start from the beginning.

Last year(2003) before Virginian FFW my battery light came on. I assumed it was the alternator so I bought a new one and put it on. Well the light was still on.
Checked the fuses under the hood and the 20 amp alternator was blown. Replaced it an everything was fine. Wennt to FFW Virginia and raced and on the way home the light comes on again. I replace the fuse and it lasts about 10 miles and goes on again. I replace the fuse again and not have had a problem since.

UNTIL Saturday (Almost a full year later). The fuse blows again. I replace it and it has blown 2 more times since.

Anybody have any suggestions.

I did not do anything saturday except undo the negative on the battery at a car show I was in so I could keep the doors open without running down the battery.

This is really starting to **** me off.

VINNIE

 

I am guessing a wiring malfunction or sumthing...... maybe a ground????
I don't know much about wiring so I can't be much help.....

but I will try!!!!

 

I probaly know less then you about electrical. I am sure its a short somewhere, but its been a year and thats a 20 amp fuse.
Also It usually happens after 10-15 minutes of driving so I am wondering if heat has anything to do with it.

Also it does NOT happen after a bump or anything, it just comes on out of nowhere.

VINNIE

 

yeah, heat might have sumthing to do with it.........
especially if it isn't triggered by a bump or anything......

Hello..... Any wiring experts out there??????

 

i will post this ? over on nhtoc, those guys are very knowledgeable about issues like this and im sure they can answer your question

 

VINNIE,

The first thing I would recommend checking is to make sure the alternator field wire, (between the fuse and the alternator), is not shorting to ground.

Disclaimer: Just a guess on my part.

Jake...

 

I had the same kind of problem as you about six months ago. Turned out part of my intercooler pump wire harness was sitting real close to my driver's side header. The heat caused spikes in the wire and I kept blowing 15 amp fuses left and right. I would highly recommend having someone look over your engine for bare wires. It's not fun and could cost alot of money... mine ended costing me about a $1000.

You also can find in your owners manuel what fuse is blowing, this will cut down on the amount of systems you or a mechanic will have to check.

Where every things have been modified on your truck needs to be checked for pinched or exposed wires, good luck.

 

Your problem is quite obvious, and easily fixed































YOU NEED MORE TIMING

Why don't you just keep buying Alternators, you got the $
or even better hire Gator to stay under the hood and
change the fuse everytime it blows

YOU BASTARD YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE...............

 

Hey Vinnie, the interior lights & under hood light turn off after 30 minutes or so.. You don't have to worry about it draining your battery.

 

You all always miss the obvious

7th Fetzer Valve!!

Actually I will go with Jake!! The man should be in a think tank!!

HI JAKE!!

 

Maybe you should paint flames on the fuse

 

I don't think it's a "short" as that would blow the fuse immediately unless it's a 'swinging' bare wire that can move to and from a ground.

It may very well be a "heat"-related problem..............

Dan

 

had this one my 4.6 L, turned out to be the little module on the alternator had gone bad. Can't remember what it was called, sorry, but its sure a good excuse to get yourself a nice satin coated or chrome alternator.

 

You probably don't have a dead short since it doesn't blow immediately.

Try putting in a good fuse, and then start moving wire harnesses. If it is a wiring problem, hopefully you can diagnose it and isolate it using this method.

I had a Mustang one time that would every so often not crank the starter. Using this method, I finally found a wire that had rubbed on a bolt, and sometimes would short to it, not allowing the starter to operate.

Good Luck

 

R U sure Terry at Pro Glass didn't do anything to it?

J/K

I would say it is overheating OR if it is not mounted properly, maybe it is moving around and shorting the +12 to ground. If it is the fuse ON the amp that is blowing then it is more likely an overheating problem. Where is it mounted? Is it getting enough air circulation? As it gets warmer out it will probably happen more often.