Alternator going out??
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Magnolia, TX
Alternator going out??
Noticed my voltage on SGII while driving was 13.1-13.4V.
Is my alternator on its way out? Shouldn't the voltage be higher while the engine is running? I don't know what it is normally as I usually don't have the voltage displayed.
Is my alternator on its way out? Shouldn't the voltage be higher while the engine is running? I don't know what it is normally as I usually don't have the voltage displayed.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 794
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From: Ontario
Depends on what loads you had on your system at the time. With just headlights mine is 13.6-14.0 but with low A/C, headlights, AMP/Sub, Sirius radio etc it's usually only 13.2-13.4 with a bit of jumping. Stocky alt aswell, just not having the charging issues as certain people do, real killer is short trips where the Alt can't combat the drain of the glowplugs.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Magnolia, TX
Depends on what loads you had on your system at the time. With just headlights mine is 13.6-14.0 but with low A/C, headlights, AMP/Sub, Sirius radio etc it's usually only 13.2-13.4 with a bit of jumping. Stocky alt aswell, just not having the charging issues as certain people do, real killer is short trips where the Alt can't combat the drain of the glowplugs.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
Full A/C and Fan? Drain is different on varying levels. Scangauge is reportedly .2v out also, so you are seeing low on your gauge, but i haven't actually tested against a voltmeter. Were you seeing higher voltages before these?
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Elder User
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From: Magnolia, TX
I don't know if the reading is lower than normal, I don't usually have the voltage displayed. I checked my wife's 04 Ex, and hers is 13.8 with the AC on (auto setting set at 74, no recirculate) which leads me to think the alt is dying. Also, crank time in the morning has been longer than usual (3-4 seconds vs. 1-2 before)
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 794
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From: Ontario
But is the crank slower than normal? What's your morning voltage before KOEO? During Injector buzz and while cranking? Full batteries are 12.7, borderline dead are 12.2
Injector buzz should send them down to 11.4-11.6 and cranking near 10.9-11
Forgot the number but Ford says anything lower than 9.8 or maybe 9.3 even, starts causing the FICM/Inj damage
Injector buzz should send them down to 11.4-11.6 and cranking near 10.9-11
Forgot the number but Ford says anything lower than 9.8 or maybe 9.3 even, starts causing the FICM/Inj damage
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2012
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From: Magnolia, TX
But is the crank slower than normal? What's your morning voltage before KOEO? During Injector buzz and while cranking? Full batteries are 12.7, borderline dead are 12.2 Injector buzz should send them down to 11.4-11.6 and cranking near 10.9-11 Forgot the number but Ford says anything lower than 9.8 or maybe 9.3 even, starts causing the FICM/Inj damage
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 794
Likes: 1
From: Ontario
If the batteries test good, it's the alternator that is struggling to keep your batteries charged. If the batteries are bad, well then they're bad.
The stock alternator is weak, but if you're not doing 5-10 minute consecutive trips and shutting off all the time, it does charge well with no loads above stock.
That being said, you would not regret bumping up to atleast a 180a (Forgot what DCpower alts stats were). It's idle amperage is the same as the stock running amperage
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