no charge

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 16, 2013 | 05:05 PM

#16

Mowing Man

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 534

Likes: 0

From: Quaker Hill

Not trying to step on toes Bonanza. It's a real possibility the alt could be bad, but to accurately test, you need to disconnect the large charging wire before your meter reading. If the alt is not putting out due to a short in the small wire, your meter will read exactly the same as the batts. The other thing to check is ground wires. They could. Be bad too.
Here's the link. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...no-charge.html

Dec 16, 2013 | 06:19 PM

#17

Bonanza35

Lead Driver

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 9,399

Likes: 188

From: Norco,CA

That's what I was saying a bad alternator. Don't worry about my toes we'll all just trying to help. My son went threw a couple of reman alternators even though he told Ford to put on new ones. The quality just isn't the same.

Dec 16, 2013 | 06:45 PM

#18

Mowing Man

Elder User

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 534

Likes: 0

From: Quaker Hill

I agree with you. Last march I had the same problem in the middle of a snow storm. Tried 3 alts, from autozone, advanced auto, and napa. None worked. Finally, I pulled the one off my other 7.3 that I knew was working and it didn't work. That's when I learned about these wires on the small clip, lol. FYI. I popped the hood and the two wires are- green/red stripe, and orange/gray stripe. Orange and gray wire needs to show voltage in order for alt to put out a charge. Blown fuse, fusible links blown, or stripped wire will prevent this. If you are in a pinch, you could run a temp. Jumper wire from the + batt terminal, but it probably should have some kind if fuse in line. Not sure what that would be. Knowing how I am, I'd probably throw a 20 amp fuse in a universal holder and hope it held, lol. Gets you where your going at least.

Dec 17, 2013 | 12:32 PM

#19

bcaughhorn

Thread Starter

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 1,329

Likes: 0

From: Grand Bay, Al

Both wires on his plug are green with orange I believe. We checked the plug also. One wire Is hot the other has nothing. I questioned the alternator too after having to replace both of mine at the same time. He said he took it back and they bench tested it

Dec 17, 2013 | 01:38 PM

#20

tommyl

More Turbo

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 509

Likes: 3

From: Findlay, Il

My '99 F350 has a(unused) wire harness for a second alternator laying under the starter solenoid (passengers side fender). The plug end has a short wire loop installed, it had shorted out, thus alternator would not charge.

Dec 17, 2013 | 01:43 PM

#21

bcaughhorn

Thread Starter

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 1,329

Likes: 0

From: Grand Bay, Al

Ok. We will check that too. Thanks

Dec 17, 2013 | 02:13 PM

#22

tommyl

More Turbo

Joined: Feb 2004

Posts: 509

Likes: 3

From: Findlay, Il

I went to Walmart and bought a digital readout gadget that checks the alternator and batteries, just plug it into the cig/lighter. Also picked up a female socket with two clips on the end of the extruding wires that I can clip on the battery or the alternator. Presto, now I have a digital readout gauge for trouble shooting.

Dec 17, 2013 | 04:30 PM

#23

lhud

Elder User

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 718

Likes: 2

From: Chattanooga, TN

The voltage regulator in the alternator may be bad - the diodes can fail and cause it to not charge. Every morning it takes a minute or so for the voltage regulator to kick in and start showing a charge - that's quite normal.
It could also be brushes inside but I would suspect the regulator first.