What would cause a '97 7.3l to have the battery light come on- voltage surge to 18+ volts and the engine to start cutting out? Now engine runs fine at idle, but problem occurs anytime over 1000 RPM...

I don't know if this is a coincidence, but the serpentine belt started coming apart at the same time as this problem. I replaced the belt, but the engine still has the problem.

please email me at mike@secondchanceranch.org

Mike

 

Alternator is bad, probably the voltage regulator causing over-chargeing and possibly bad bearings caused belt problem. Here's a thread from the 99-03 forum where the guy had the same overchargeing problem. Get it fixed before you damage the batteries.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=440419

edit: By the way, welcome to FTE. (first post)

 

Alternators bad,voltage regulator causing over chargeing . don't keep driving it!

 

...Welcome to Ford Truck Enthusiasts!
…..See you on the boards.

 

THANK YOU! I'm writing on behalf of my husband, Mike, who wrote in with his question about the engine overcharging and cutting out.... he put the alternator in this morning and was on the road ;-) He had horses to haul. You really saved the day! And saved us a ton of money. I love this list!!!

We just bought this truck a few months ago... it did one other thing that really worried me. We were on the freeway (going 65mph) hauling three large horses in a three horse gooseneck. It started shaking violently - felt like an up and down and sideways motion at the same time. It lasted about 15 seconds and then just stopped. He said it felt like the front end, but when he checked it out nothing was loose. It's done this a couple of times, for no apparent reason. Only when we're hauling horses - I don't know if it has something to do with the trailer?

Thanks!

 

My truck developed a front end shake when the tires were getting wore out, but that was with the truck empty. You did not say what kind of truck it is, F250, F350, etc. Does the trailer and horses cause the back of the truck to drop quite a bit or do you know the gross weight of the trailer & horses combined? I'm wondering if the trailer and horses are dropping the back of the truck and lifting the front of the truck, taking too much weight off of the front tires. Possibly adding a leaf spring or air shocks to the rear end to level the truck while towing will fix it.