Well, DANG - that's a lot, if that says 30 volts.

Anyone else able to do a quick check on their V10? I'd do it with my '97 Cougar (same alternator as my '01 V10), but my daughter has it right now.

You too punny

 

Im hoping somebody comes back with some light here lol I'll buy an alternator right now if its possibly the problem.

 

From what i've just been reading that doesnt seem to be far from where it should be. Which means another idea shot down......sigh

 

The idea with alternators is, they have a diode matrix in them that only puts out DC voltage - it's pulsed, but still DC. And they generally peak around 15 volts. If you're getting 30 volts AC at the output, that means at least one of the diodes is shorted, and the voltage is swinging into the negative. Peak-to-peak on an AC waveform would give you around 30 volts.

I think the alternator is bad, but I just wanted someone else to check their alternator before we go spending your money

 

That is greatly appreciated lol But yes id love some more input on this.

 

Do you have any other vehicles around you could do the same check on? I'm worried your DVM might be giving out weird numbers. Can you turn off "auto" range?

 

I'll check out my dmax and my wifes exploder when I get back home.

**dmax reads 29.4, so I assume the alt is good**

 

if you have an old analog voltmeter might be interesting to compare readings

 

So yeah, now we're back to checking COPs for arcing (or lack thereof).

 

I have a new set of coils I could throw in. Problem is if it runs good I still wont know if it's fixed. I have a camping trip in August and this pig needs to get there on all 10 cylinders.

 

I recall you changed the plugs already? What brand did you use?

 

They were autolites. Good ones I cant remember the name off hand.

 

Well new DMM shows 0.000v now. So I guess I can rule out the alternator.

As for the plugs they are Autolite Iridium XP.

 

I'm of the opinion that one of those coils is not firing right (or maybe more than one), and the unreleased energy is feeding back into the system. I remember at last a handful of people that reported OSS/VSS errors, and misfires, and the ultimate solution was at least one coil was doing something funky.

If you have them already, it can't hurt to put them in. Make sure you use dielectric grease around the tip of the boot where it meets the insulator of the plug, and where the boot seals on the coil.