Weird electrical issue.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Tacoma
Weird electrical issue.
The other day while I was driving to work I had the heater going and my headlights on and I noticed that while I was driving my headlights and fan would both lose a bit of power and then pick back up about every 30 seconds or so. It wasn't related to engine RPMs. Could it be the voltage regulator? I'll check all my ground connections tomorrow but they should all be good. I even added a couple the other day because I had some wire sitting around and I was already under the hood doing electrical work on the ignition. Its not really a big deal, its just kind of annoying to hear the fan speed changing and see the headlights dim and get brighter.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,945
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Hard to say if its a charging issue, or if there is something drawing load. I would start the truck, disconect the battery and check the voltage as you turn on the heater and lights and see what you get back. Might be time to consider a 3G Alternator upgrade.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,219
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From: Colorado Springs
Had the same problem on a 79 my buddy owned. Was not the alternator, not the voltage regulator, or any other device. It did kill the MSD ignition module about 5 times. It was sold before the problem was narrowed down, but it must have been a bad ground or short somewhere in the wiring. The wires were fairly jerry rigged with splices under the dash, and the body had been swapped, along with him welding on the truck without disconnecting the battery.
It did visit a repair shop a few times and they would say that there were no problems with the wiring that they could find.
Bottom line is I would start tracing your wires and grounds. If you still cant get it to stop "pulsing" and your wires look like garbage, a new Ford harness from Centech might be your best bet.
It did visit a repair shop a few times and they would say that there were no problems with the wiring that they could find.
Bottom line is I would start tracing your wires and grounds. If you still cant get it to stop "pulsing" and your wires look like garbage, a new Ford harness from Centech might be your best bet.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Tacoma
I didn't get a chance to do anything today. I had a long day at work and was wiped when I got home. Hopefully tomorrow. It could be a short somewhere. The wiring on this thing was butchered by a previous owner. I even found a trailer electrical connector under the dash that disables the starter when its removed. The wires were twisted together and partially wrapped in tape. What is the 3G alternator upgrade? I'll be adding a stereo eventually so an upgrade will probably be necessary anyways.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Mountville PA
that trailer connector is your neutral safty switch and reverse lights, thats the factory connector. you didn't say what yr truck you had, these wires would be looped if you had a manual trans, but not twisted together.
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Tacoma
I know the connector your talking about. That one is one of the few connectors that doesn't appear to be broken or have wires cut up and spliced in to. Except that I don't have reverse lights and my truck will start in any gear. Which is a good thing since the shifter broke and has to be put in gear under the hood and then started. The one I'm talking about was added later. None of the wires were crimped or soldered. Just twisted together and covered in tape. When I removed the loose half the engine would not turn over but everything else was still functional. Just a $5 anti-theft device. Sorry. I guess I forgot to mention what I have. Its a 77 F-150 with a C6.
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