ok so i just got this 96 bagged ranger with a 4.0l auto the battery is in the back and the alternator has a wire spliced into the yellow and white wire going over next to the fuse box but not hook up the truck will run great at idle for a while but the alternator will not charge (been checked says it's good). where should the wires go to coming off the alternator? any help would be greatful

 

The alternator is not charging correct? You run through your battery until the truck dies? Is the aftermarket wire that runs off the back of the alternator, been wired into the plug that goes to the alternator?

When you fire the truck up, check that wire for continuity. I am going to bet you have none. The fact that it has been run to the fuse box is a good sign.

Sounds like someone completed the old "bypass the ignitor wire" set up. You have a break in the circuit somewhere in your wiring from either the bulb in the dash that indicates a charging problem (or volt gauge), to somewhere in the harness from the ignition to the alternator. What happens is the alternator will not turn on until the key is in the "On" position. This keeps the circuitry in the alternator from burning up from being "On" all the time. Problem is that this "Ignition On" wire that turns the alternator on, is also run through the warning lights or gauge. If anywhere in that circuit there is a break, then the current that is run from the ignition to the alternator to tell it to turn on, then there is no signal to do so. Some people have bypassed it all together, by adding their own ignitor wire, and running it to a power source that they can unplug when they are done driving, and plug back in before they turn the vehicle on. This way no one has to spend the time chasing down that electrical gremlin.

Since the wire has no current through it when you fire up the truck, go ahead and source some power to it.. I bet your alternator turns on!

On the Powerstroke's it isnt uncommon that you can run around for days (dual batteries) before you notice a charging issue because the bulb is burned out, and the alternator wasnt turned on because of it.

 

Welcome to FTE. This is a great site for all things Ranger.

Try getting ahold of wiring diagrams to check out the charging system wiring and get the wiring back into the places it should be. Sounds like somebody did some messing around with the circuit.

Also, I'm puzzled by your comment that the "battery is in the back." Do you mean it is in the bed?

 

yes it is in the bed. on the alt there is a yellow and white strip wire is that the wire that turn on the alt because i hooked it up to the battery and still nothing. about to look at some diagrams and see what i can do i will run all new wire if i have to just not sure where they all go.

 

ok so i got it fixed guessing there was a short in the wire coming out the back of the atl so i just ran a new one with a in line fuse works great now thanks for all the help