charging system issues
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charging system issues
Had some issues with my new truck tonight, 01 7.3 6 speed reg cab. Driving home the radio shut off on me, completely lost power. The voltage gauge was sitting right at 8. Got it home, shut it off, and wouldn't restart.
I tried hooking it to the charger, after about 4 minutes it fired right back up, voltage gauge was right in the middle where it should be. I turned the radio and all the lights on and let it sit, went back to it in about 5 minutes and the radio was off again and the gauge was back to 8. I left it running and shut off all the lights, and the gauge went back up to around 10, but it wouldn't go up past that even with everything off. For every turn of the dial turning on more lights, the gauge went down a little more back to 8. Same with the blower switch.
The batteries are brand new, the terminal ends aren't in amazing shape but they're not bad enough to be not making contact. I'm thinking possibly the voltage regulator on the alt...or the alt itself. But this is my first Powerstroke (I was a Cummins guy) so I'm hoping you guys have some insight for me! Thanks.
I tried hooking it to the charger, after about 4 minutes it fired right back up, voltage gauge was right in the middle where it should be. I turned the radio and all the lights on and let it sit, went back to it in about 5 minutes and the radio was off again and the gauge was back to 8. I left it running and shut off all the lights, and the gauge went back up to around 10, but it wouldn't go up past that even with everything off. For every turn of the dial turning on more lights, the gauge went down a little more back to 8. Same with the blower switch.
The batteries are brand new, the terminal ends aren't in amazing shape but they're not bad enough to be not making contact. I'm thinking possibly the voltage regulator on the alt...or the alt itself. But this is my first Powerstroke (I was a Cummins guy) so I'm hoping you guys have some insight for me! Thanks.
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Idling up doesn't make any difference with it either. I'm going to take it and have the alternator checked tomorrow, but just figured I'd check and see if there's anything that is common to go wrong with these trucks.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Slatington, PA
The plug on top of the alternator is known to develop a loose connection sometimes. Hook up a voltmeter to the batteries and wiggle that plug while the engine is running. See if the voltage jumps up. A healthy alt should put out at least 13v at idle.
Just for the heck of it, check to see if the cable from the alt to the batteries has continuity. I can't remember if it has fuseable links or not in that wire.
Just for the heck of it, check to see if the cable from the alt to the batteries has continuity. I can't remember if it has fuseable links or not in that wire.
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Went out to check that plug, and see if it would start. The voltage gauge was in the right place, but it only gave one crank and stalled out. The plug on top of the alt was as tight as could be. From the little notebook I got with it, the alternator was changed in 06, more than 100k miles ago. Thinking maybe it's given up the ghost.
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