Notices
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

Alternater Delay

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 05:43 PM
  #1  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Alternater Delay

Last month battery light kept coming on, Alt. was not charging, it was intermitant but finally lasted so long I replaced the alt.
This month an intermitant problem with alt. has arisen. Not all the time but every other day or so after I start the truck (30-60 sec.) later all the dash lights go out and radio as well. Jump out and check the battery and it is around 10.6 engine running. Within a minute the alternater kicks in at around 14A. Ideas?
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 05:47 PM
  #2  
npccpartsman's Avatar
npccpartsman
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,369
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Club FTE Silver Member

It's NORMAL for the alternator to not start charging immediately. The high amp draw of the glow plugs would burn up the alternator in fairly short order that way. When the GP's kick off the alternator kicks on. It's designed that way. You also might want to get your batteries checked. 10.6 is kinda low IMHO.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 05:55 PM
  #3  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Batteries are interstate and less than two years old, also had them tested not long ago.
The glow plugs would not be on after starting would they?
Why do all the Dash lights go out and the radio shows low battery then goes black until alternater kicks in. Then it's AM.
The truck never used to do this.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 06:04 PM
  #4  
william_04_x's Avatar
william_04_x
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 209
Club FTE Silver Member

The glow plugs can stay on for a minute or so after the truck is running. The bad alternator could have taken out your batteries. You need to have the batts and alternator checked out. Make sure all the charging system connections are clean and tight.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:16 PM
  #5  
cheezit's Avatar
cheezit
Post Fiend
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
Club FTE Silver Member

gpcm timer is 2 min. as already stated check the batteries
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:20 PM
  #6  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
That's the best thought I have found for this problem yet. I have tested the batteries every hour over a six hour period and have no drain, disconnected from one another. New alternater is doing same as old one as far as not kicking in but old one had battery light on and got more frequent and longer in not putting out. Will keep on checking things.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:22 PM
  #7  
cheezit's Avatar
cheezit
Post Fiend
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
Club FTE Silver Member

heheheh. did you check it for a/c voltage... I say thins now knowing thanks to Tim that not all volt meters are created equal...

you may have a bad diode in the new unit.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:24 PM
  #8  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
The glow plug staying on that long makes sense. Will have batteries tested and see where we are. They are under warranty so that would be a great fix.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

 Brett Foote
story-4

10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-6

Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-9

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:31 PM
  #9  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
? why would I check AC voltage on a DC alternater? I use a fluke meter that is less than six months old and is part of my telecom work tools.
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:36 PM
  #10  
cheezit's Avatar
cheezit
Post Fiend
15 Year Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 12,123
Likes: 35
From: N. Fort Worth, tx
Club FTE Silver Member

cause I said so....
pretty much all alternators are really ac generators. the a/c wave is choped by the diode trio.
a faild diode well let ac voltage leak to a d/c battery.

fluke will/should work for this
 
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2011 | 07:38 PM
  #11  
69cj's Avatar
69cj
Hotshot
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 26
From: Middle Tn.
The alternator puts out AC voltage and the diodes convert it to DC. If you have a bad diode it can leak current in reverse. Diodes pass current in one direction only when functioning properly.
 
Reply
Old Jul 26, 2011 | 09:32 AM
  #12  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Tried something the other day and so far have not had the problem again. Went all day yesterday and three start ups today without the alternater lag or power to all dash board vanishing. It had become a problem about every other start, we will see.
 
Reply
Old Jul 27, 2011 | 08:16 AM
  #13  
WilmsD's Avatar
WilmsD
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
OK, 3 days into my fix and so far have none of the problems with alternater or dash lights/low battery problem.
What I did was disconnect the two battery ground cables for around 45 seconds. Then I reconnected them.
I had done this on older vehicles before to reset the program/computer so decided to try it. This is my first diesel and newest vehicle I have owned, so far the fix seems to have reset the program/computer and all is working well.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Herb Bell
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Aug 2, 2019 11:21 PM
fordbroncodave
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
17
May 7, 2013 01:16 PM
jeeplj8
1999 - 2016 Super Duty
10
Nov 16, 2011 02:47 PM
calf roper
1999 - 2003 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
8
Dec 21, 2008 03:48 PM
jbullfrog
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
16
Mar 2, 2007 02:32 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:40 PM.

story-0
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals

Slideshow: Top 10 Fords at 2026 Ford Nationals

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-09 11:10:08


VIEW MORE
story-1
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership

Based on years of owning multiple modern Ford products.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 10:53:36


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches

SPONSORED: From muddy boots to rain-soaked cargo, these upgrades address some of the most common frustrations Ford truck owners face every day.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-08 18:50:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained

Here's everything you need to know about every Ford engine available for the 2026 model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-05 12:58:01


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Ford trucks that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 09:51:16


VIEW MORE
story-5
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:58


VIEW MORE
story-6
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-03 11:38:36


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE