2003 Ex Limited 6.0L RWD


Hello fellow forum friends,


I've got another stumper for you all, maybe you've got an idea on what to do. I've been having voltage issues over the past year and a half and last summer I replaced my alternator and everything seemed to be fine. it showed cranking out 14.3 volts steadily....no problem.


During the last month (starting in May here in Miami, Fl) I had the battery warning light come on briefly and I thought oh no...now what...I went through this a year ago. Now when I replaced the alternator, I noticed the tensioner pulley was frozen on, it wouldn't budge so I thought maybe it was putting excess strain on the system maybe killing the alternator prematurely? Then about two weeks ago the truck wouldn't start at all. Its been doing this for about a year and a half. Sometimes you get in and turn the key and the fuel pump sounds, the lights come on, but no starter or cranking. I will usually play with itkey off, key on, key off, key on, wait 20 seconds....again again..then it will suddenly fire up. yes its frustrating and wife won't drive it anymore. As a matter of fact, I had it at the mechanic for the fuel sender tip replacement and to reflash my FICM and I had shut it off in the driveway of the shop. Mechanic said ok, pull her into the garage... It wouldn't start....he put it in neutral and it started....so he adjusted that while it was there and it ran for a week...about a week after, I go to get in one morning and same thing again....lights on, fuel pump is sending fuel, but no starter cranking.... so now I decide could be starter fuses/relays...I replaced those because they were cheap....nope. I took the batteries out and they took a charge overnight. I put them back in truck and first attempt nothing second key turn...cranked up. So now I bought one of those cigarette lighter receptacle charging system display monitors that tells you how many volts are running through your system. I plug it in and I'm showing 14.2-14.3 so its charging nicely. I go to turn on my air conditioner and after two to 5 mintues, the monitor shows a red light and the voltage now drops to 12.5-12.8 warning me the alternators not charging the batteries or so. So I kill the ac and bam..it jumps back up within 10 seconds to 14.2volts. Sometimes though...even after I shut the ac off, it will still drop down to the 12.7 range but then bounce back up after a few minutes.
When I idle in a parking lot say waiting somewhere, I hear a clicking which someone said is the ac compressor clutch engaging and it clicks on and off like every minute or even less if I remember correctly. Could it be the AC clutch is faulty and draining down the system? And since its original , should I just bite the bullet and replace the whole compressor with the clutch? I went on Rock Auto and saw like 4 different motorcraft models didn't know which one fit mine. I thought it could also be the battery cable. maybe I should try replacing that? or the grounding cable as I live near the beach and maybe its not getting good contact..maybe a little corrosion. maybe the original starter? It's 12 yeas old afterall. About 6 months ago I pulled my bed liner out of the rear cargo space and felt the back area wet and though maybe it leaked from that back AC compartment where the jack is kept? The AC temp is a little warmer now at times leading me to believe maybe the compressor isn't coming on or staying on and is slipping. Any thoughts, Ideas. or past experience. WHEW THAT WAS A LONG ONE! SORRY. THANKS.

 

I think Your alternator is acting up just like mine did before . The truck started all kind of problems . A/C clutch , o/d flashing , some time power loss , Hasting , slow Windows . Etc

And when moving from red light there's a kick in the transmission .

I replaced it with 300 amp alt , upgraded the the ground cables to 0g and optima battery .

Results 2 years no electrical problems at all .

 

thanks...I may be going down that road again

 

I'm leaning towards battery cables or the alternator.

 

I would start by cleaning/ scraping to bare metal ALL the grounding lugs, studs, at the body and engine. Also at the starter. Clean all the battery connections.
Time consuming, but otherwise you'll be paying someone to do it, and it's easy.
Recently there was a thread about the large lug junction on the driver side front inner fender (behind the airbox) corroding and causing grief.
Good luck.

 

Thank you guys

 

Andy do you still need the parts for the rear door?

 

Yes sir! I've got to go pick up a new water heater in South Miami next week and was just thinking...how the hell am I going to get that f'ing door open. Lol. I figured I'd go rent the pickup or van at home depot.

 

Text me in the am, I need to go down to the beach either tomorrow or Saturday

 

Sounds good will do....thanks!

 

Sorry buddy, I can't find your number anywhere....

 

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