Hey guys, got a question. First of all I'm out of town and the wife is driving my 03 SD 6.0 (Lariat / FX4) She called this morning to say the truck wouldn't start, got a jump and went to work. At lunch it started and she took it to Auto Zone for a battery check, they replaced the driver side battery and all was well... for about 45 miles. Headlights started going off and back on, airbag light and ABS light came on, radio went off. She pulled over and turned it off. She checked the cables which were tight, tried to start it again and no go... just clicks. Any ideas are GREATLY appreciated!

 

Never good to replace just one battery on a dual set up. They should have replaced both. If the other battery was bad as well it would cause damage to the new one. I would say another possibility is bad alternator but that should have thrown a battery light. Third thing I can think of is a loose or bad ground cable, could be on the block side.

 

Thanks Johnny, this last couple of days she said the battery light came on when she was at traffic lights but would go off after she accelerated. After the battery was replaced today, she said the battery light never came on. Then all H*&L broke loose.
Maybe the alternator just finally went? Is there anything that could be related with installing an new battery and totally killing an alternator?

 

If the light was coming on when idleing at stop but was fine at speed that was the sign the alternator was going. Most shops like auto zone can check the alternator as well as the battery get it checked and replaced.

Always replace batteries in pairs.
Sounds like the new battery ran the truck until it wran out of juice then truck died

 

Thanks Wagion, the timing was just suspicious as the truck started this afternoon to get her to the Autozone for the battery check, then after replacing the battery, she had this problem. Coincidence I'm sure, but none the less...

I appreciate you taking the

 

my guess is alternator...

 

Thanks to everyone! New alternator it is. Any ideas on where to get a reasonably priced GOOD alternator?

 

Yeah, now that you say the light was coming on, alternator but I would have that other battery replaced too. The new one will probably be OK even though it took a hit but maybe you can get autozone to replace it because they failed to diagnose the alternator problem and stranded your wife...

 

I myself would price out an alternator from Ford and compare some prices but I am partial to OEM parts and would probably buy it from Ford even if it cost more. Been burnt one too many times buying from the parts houses.

 

I hear ya on the OEM parts, me too. However Ford wants around 400 bucks and I can get one from NAPA for around 250.00. Wasn't sure if anyone had had better luck with one over another

 

Didn't mention the light coming on because it quit doing it after the battery was changed, or so I'm told anyway... Even then, light only on at idle made no sense to me, is this common with ford alternators? To undercharge at low engine speeds?

 

Yeah, common for them to go that way... At least they start giving you a sign rather than just crapping out.. I've had a couple go the same way, light starts flickering or comes on at idle. It's a sign that the regulator is starting to fail.

 

I want to thank everyone here for their advice and experience... THANK YOU! I hope I can be of help to you all some day.