Notices
1980 - 1986 Bullnose F100, F150 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Early Eighties Bullnose Ford Truck

electrical isues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 08:48 AM
  #1  
f150xltlarait's Avatar
f150xltlarait
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
electrical isues

i have an 86 f150 for the past couple months my amp guage needle has been bouncing around from the center of the guage sligtly to the c only at idle when i drive it stays in one place i have replaced the batt and the altenator today when i got to work i sat in the truck and turnd on my fog lights and my heater all the way and my radio would turn off and on but when i turnd eather the lights or heater off it was fine any ideas
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 11:13 AM
  #2  
CarolinaCanes's Avatar
CarolinaCanes
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Are you saying your radio is turning on and off by its self?

It was a little hard to follow.
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 11:15 AM
  #3  
CarolinaCanes's Avatar
CarolinaCanes
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
Did you test your alt with a multimeter before swapping?
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 01:18 PM
  #4  
f150xltlarait's Avatar
f150xltlarait
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by CarolinaCanes
Are you saying your radio is turning on and off by its self?

It was a little hard to follow.
Sorry the radio will turn off then back on by itself like it lost power but then got it back
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 01:31 PM
  #5  
f150xltlarait's Avatar
f150xltlarait
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by CarolinaCanes
Did you test your alt with a multimeter before swapping?
No but the alternator was under warranty so no loss
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 05:19 PM
  #6  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,949
Likes: 2,718
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Take a voltage measurement at the battery with the truck fully warmed up and idling. Report back.
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2014 | 10:02 PM
  #7  
CarolinaCanes's Avatar
CarolinaCanes
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
That was what I was getting at. It's the fastest easiest thing to do. No power in= no power out.

I don't know what you have access to but a $25 equus self ranging multimeter from autozone would be a cheap investment. Mine doesn't do everything my uncle fluke does obviously but the the readings are dead on on the few test I've done with both.
 
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2014 | 05:40 AM
  #8  
f150xltlarait's Avatar
f150xltlarait
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
about 15v at the batt
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-3

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-4

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

 Brett Foote
story-6

5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

 Joe Kucinski
Old Jan 17, 2014 | 02:33 PM
  #9  
Franklin2's Avatar
Franklin2
Moderator
25 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Community Influencer
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,949
Likes: 2,718
From: Virginia
Club FTE Gold Member
Originally Posted by f150xltlarait
about 15v at the batt
That looks good. Now go in and with it warmed up and idling, turn the foglamps and the blower all the way up and take another voltage reading at the battery.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2014 | 05:48 AM
  #10  
Rovernut's Avatar
Rovernut
Laughing Gas
10 Year Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 6
From: Georgia
15v is actually too high, especially if it's a flooded cell battery.
Here's a good trouble shooting flow chart.
http://www.prestolite.com/literature..._Flowchart.pdf
And another good document
http://www.prestolite.com/literature...leshooting.pdf
 
Reply
Old Jan 22, 2014 | 08:50 AM
  #11  
f150xltlarait's Avatar
f150xltlarait
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
still around 15v at the battry with the headlights fog lights and blower on
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
WWR
2004 - 2008 F150
0
Jun 9, 2017 10:50 AM
dcelrod
1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel
4
Aug 24, 2015 12:26 PM
parrishjoh
Electrical Systems/Wiring
4
Mar 1, 2011 04:49 PM
1986_F150
Audio & Video Systems, Navigation, Satellite Radio & Mobile Electronics
6
Dec 17, 2005 09:24 PM
Longone
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel
6
Sep 18, 2004 04:44 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:42 PM.

story-0
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-1
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-2
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE
story-5
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026

Slideshow: Here are the top 10 Fords coming to Mecum Indy 2026.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:49:49


VIEW MORE
story-6
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time

Slideshow: The 5 best and 5 worst Ford truck wheels of all time

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:49:01


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford Super Duty: 5 Things Owners LOVE, 5 Things They LOATHE!

Slideshow: Ranking the 5 things owners love about their Super Duty and 5 things they don't

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 16:36:49


VIEW MORE
story-8
Every 2026 Ford Truck Engine RANKED from WORST to FIRST!

Slideshow: Ranking all 12 Ford truck engines available in 2026.

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 13:32:20


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best F-150 Deal of Every Trim Level (XL through Raptor)

Slideshow: The best Ford F-150 deal for every trim level (XL through Raptor)

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-21 15:59:01


VIEW MORE