I have an 89 E-350 cube van w/460
Its not charging at all, I pulled the alternator out and had advanced auto check it out. He said it was good, bought a new belt. Cleaned the plugs going into the alternator and reinstalled. Still not charging. Any help would be appreciated.

Rick Sweares

 

How do you know it's not charging...what are some of your symptoms?

J.

 

If the battery is not charging, then you could have a bad battery, a bad alternator, a slipping belt due to oil or a bad tensioner, or a short in the electrical system that is draining the battery.

To diagnose this, remove the negative battery cable, and place a meter set to AMPs between the removed cable and the negative battery post. If the meter reads a few amps or more, then there is some drain in the system due to a short or a bad alternator. If there is no reading on the meter, then you have a bad battery.

If the meter does show a reading of a few AMPs, remove the plug from the back of the alternator. If the meter drops, then the alternator has failed internally and must be replaced.

If the meter still shows a reading of a few AMPs, then remove each fuse in turn until you find the circuit that has the short, and correct it.

 

Are you going off of the voltage guage to tell that it's not charging? You may have a charge, but the guage is shot.

 

Well, it just didn't make sense, when Advanced Auto said the alternator was good. I checked all the wiring and everything looked good. So I took it back out and went over a few towns to a small starter & Alternator shop.... his machine said it was good also. but than he said that don't mean nothing... so he poped it open and right away he could see some problems... 15 minutes later and $25 buck.... reinstalled and charging like a charm.......

What can I say but THANKS!!!!!

 

So what exactly were these problems?

 

Yeah, what were the "problems"?

 

For one thing he said one of the brushes were burnt, He also said somthing to do with the regulator.

 

Actually to see if the alternator is charging is very simple. Try this and let me know what you find. Start the vehicle and while it is running disconnect the negative off of the battery and if it stays running the alternator is good if it dies then it is bad. Good luck hope this helps

 

Alternating vs. Direct Current 101


DO NOT disconnect the battery cable when the engine is running. You run the risk of blowing the Voltage regulator, the diode pack, or the windings on the alternator.

Alternators create A.C. current which is then rectified thru the diodes to make D.C. current. When you disconnect the battery cable when the alternator is running you create a voltage spike that does BAD things to your alternator.

You had to do this on old GENERATORS (especially Fords) to excite the field windings when 1st installed. Integrated circuits work well when they are not abused.

Larry

 

OH really, i have always done that to see if they work and have not have any problems at all in regards to blowing things.

 

I have never blown one, but my brother who is a mechanic told me never to disconnect the battery when it was running cause it would ruin the alternator. Glad you have had good luck so far fordrules.

Here is one web site that explains it.

http://www.forparts.com/techbattery.htm

 

An excellent way of testing an alternator without a volt guage or an amp guage or electrical meter of any sort, try this, in your mind, draw a staight line through the pulley to the back of the alternator, the center of the back of the alternator is also the center of the rotating rotor, start the vehicle up and place a screwdriver at the back center of the alternator, if the screwdriver sticks like a magnet to the alternator, it is charging or doing output, if the scewdriver does not stick to the alternator, the unit is not charging. try it.
broken wire

 

Thanks, I love common sense, been one of my best friends. This makes perfectly good sense, an alternator is motion and an electromagnet. If the electromagnet doesn't excite, your alternator is not charging.

You can usually get a pretty good idea about your alternator by loading it down. Turn on your brights, high fan, A/C, windows, cigar lighter, emergency flashers, wipers, etc, if the lights dim or the flashers slow down, your voltage is low.

Multimeters are basic equipment, get one.

 

What is with all the mystery ??? If you connect a mulimeter to the battery, note your voltage, start the vehicle and check again. If your alternator is working you should see 14 +-.

This way you know the Alternator is working and the charge is getting to the Baterry..... right ?