I did a little searching through the forums and couldn't really find what I am looking for, so maybe some one can shed some light on this for me.

In the last three months I replaced my alternator(last one totally died on me) and within the last week I replaced my batteries(passenger side had a bad cell).

My problem/question is that when I initially start the truck and watch my voltage with my Edge CTS, my battery voltage hovers in the low to mid 11's for a few minutes before it finally kicks in and gets up to the lower 13's upper 12's while idling. While running it is in the upper 13's sometimes low 14's. Is this normal, if not what are normal parameters?

I was alerted to the bad battery while driving and see the battery light flicker and my voltage drop to the low 12's upper 11's, but that is no longer happening.

I read somewhere that it does take some time before the alternator kicks in and starts pumping juice back in but what gets me is that now I see the battery light flicker on and off until it does. It never did this before.

Probably not a big issue but want to make sure it doesn't cause other problems, i.e. ficm and injector issues with low voltage.

Thanks for the help and all the great knowledge on here!

 

I haven't replaced the one in the Ex yet, but on other cars, I have had a problem with rebuilt units. I finally went with a BRAND NEW unit (happened to be NAPA) and never had a problem after that. I was using a "top of the line" remanufactured unit from a national chain, and all of them were incapable of keeping my wife's car charged. I LOVED being at work and getting a call that the car was dead at the grocery!

I would get the bad ones tested and they said they were fine, but the voltage would drop to 12ish at idle. It was worse after the car warmed up also. It couldn't take the heat of summer and the engine. The one that worked and is still working was ALWAYS over 13 at idle. If you don't get 13.2V+ or more at idle, I would get something else.

 

Thanks for the information, that was kind of what I was thinking. I am running an O'reilly alternator right now. Thought about going with a bigger alt when I bought it, but wanted to save some money and their lifetime warranty sold me.

I guess I am going to have to become friends with the manager over there and see if they can work me out a deal or something.

 

It will do that while your glow plugs are energized. GP's pull a lot of power.

Sounds about right, depending on the load.

Check out this thread. The info will help even though it's for the 7.3L PSD.: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post10806422

Stewart

PS - I run a cheap volt meter in the cig lighter on all my vehicles.

 

It may be completely normal for the truck, no experience with GP's.

But the car I am talking about has nearly 500watts of lighting and with the "good" alternator on it now, it never goes below 13.3V, even when hot, A/C pumping, and all the lights on. The reman ones (I think I went through 3 of them in a week) all dipped into the 11's.

 

You may want to check your starter also. If it is about to die it could be pulling more power than it is supposed to. My EX wont really charge the batteries until it hits 1,000 RPM.

If you are looking at a larger alt make sure you check to see if it will charge at idle. Some high output ones wont provide enough power at idle.

 

I had a similar experience with reman alternators on another vehicle I owned. Faulty regulator on one of the replacements, over 3,000 RPM the dash lights got very bright and the radio would cut out. They finally gave me the "premium" reman at no extra charge.

 

Thanks again for all the replies. I hope to have the alt off today and get it down to O'reillys to see what they say. I hate when things are intermittent, but hopefully I can make them see my way.

Really wish I would have just bought a higher capacity alt from the get go.

In regards to the voltage monitors that some of y'all posted about, are they really necessary when my edge insight shows the me the real-time voltage?

 

Why? Are there other things happening you haven't told us about?

What's happening intermittently?

Why, have you added mods that pull a ton of power, like a high end stereo equipment?

No. That was for the people who don't have the edge, like you, to monitor voltage.

I don't have the Edge so I need the volt meter.

Stewart

 

What sucks about all of this is that it all always happens at once. Three weeks ago, I notice a burnt coolant smell and found a leak in the plastic top tank of my radiator. No a big leak, small enough to get by, but still needs to be changed. I had just received my new all aluminum radiator in when the battery issues started. Had the batteries checked and the passenger battery had a dead cell. Replaced them with new ones(had no idea how old the originals were.) Now on to this problem. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, I will have all this straightened out, new radiator installed, new fuel filters, oil changed and a new coolant filter.

Having the AC go out, doing the complete bullet proofing, and all of this within the first year is a bunch to take on, but at least I know where I stand from this point forward.

I love this forum though, so much information.

Thanks!

 

Texas, no offense brother, but that is NOT what you posted with your first post.

What you posted in your first post is quite normal with the glow plugs still activated. However, with the subsequent information you've just now provided, what you're experiencing is completely different than what you have posted in your first post.

Intermittent voltage drops are indicative of a bad alternator or wire connection problems.

Stewart

 

Yeah, my apologies. I tend to think that everyone can read my mind and determine what I meaning to type. If you happen to talk my wife, I am sure that she can vouch for my inability to always communicate my thoughts.

Needless to say, thanks again for all the help. Hopefully this is the last of the (maintenance) for awhile.

 

You may have already done this but go through and check all of the connections at the battery, battery terminals, ground, and alternator. It could be possible that a wire was knocked loose or was at it's end of life and moving it that last time broke enough strands to cause this issue.

If you can catch it at 11 for a longer period, take a multimeter and start measuring. Check at the battery, check at the alternator. This should narrow down the source of the problem. You can also start the truck and wiggle things around to check for a bad connection while watching the meter. Be careful not to lose your arm in the belt or fan!