battery not charging help me

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Dec 22, 2002 | 01:21 PM

stover007

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From: Maryland

battery not charging help me

I have a 87 F150 with a 300 straight six in it. My battey is not chargeing like it should its too low. I took off the alternator and took it in to be rebuilt but he said it was good alternator. Could the voltage regulartor in the alternator be bad? we cleaned off the ternimals and it ran good and charged good for a few days now its not working again any suggestions?
thanks

Dec 22, 2002 | 01:46 PM

edenroadmaster

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battery not charging help me

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 22-Dec-02 AT 02:49 PM (EST)]take the battery to a parts store and have them do a load test on it.
more than likely you have a bad cell in the battery. todays avrage batteries are only made to last about 4 yrs.
eden

also, if the cables have corrosion under the plastic, replace them.
the corrosion adds restiance in the cable, and may restricting the amps to the battery

Dec 22, 2002 | 02:59 PM

stover007

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From: Maryland

battery not charging help me

sorry i forgot to say i bought a new battery and cable

Dec 22, 2002 | 04:55 PM

steve83

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From: Memphis, TN

battery not charging help me

Which cable? Did you clean & tighten the OTHER ends of both cables? Make sure ALL the grounds are clean & tight, and that the bulb in the dash isn't burnt out - it's part of the regulator's circuit and must be good for the alt to work right. Make sure the belt isn't slipping on the pulley.

Dec 22, 2002 | 05:07 PM

94van

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From: Southern MD

battery not charging help me

Doesn't the '87 have a stand alone regulator?

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Dec 22, 2002 | 06:18 PM

steve83

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From: Memphis, TN

battery not charging help me

IIRC, '87 had an internal regulator - that's what Haynes shows. I know it has a dash light and a voltmeter instead of the older ammeter, and that's the bulb I was talking about.

Dec 26, 2002 | 02:50 PM

sharkNJ

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From: Palermo USA

battery not charging help me

I'm having the same problem with my truck - '89 4.9L. My volt gauge would read low, but the battery light would never go on, even with the ignition on and the engine not running (when all the other idiot lights go on). I was charging my battery every morning. I found that if a jiggled the regulator connector on the alternator, it would charge for a little while, then stop again. I replaced the connector and it worked for a full day. The next day the same problem was back. I wedged a piece of plastic between the regulator connector and the alternator body and it's been working fine for about 2 weeks now. I think the connector on the alternator itself is bad.

Try jiggling the regulator connector and see if that makes a difference. You may have the same problem.

Also, I think the battery light on the dash is connected to the regulator, while the volt gauge seems to be connected to the battery. Now that I have a connection to the regulator, the battery light goes on when the ignition is on, before starting the engine, as it should. If I disconnect the regulator, the battery light never goes on, but the volt gauge continues to work.

-Steve