Elect system shutdown when large loads turned on.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
Elect system shutdown when large loads turned on.
This is a recurrent problem I thought I had solved. The truck is the Explorer below.
This evening the engine started with a loud click from under the hood. It ran fine but when when I turned the headlights on the radio dimmed and the phone chirped with the dip in voltage. Later since this has occured before I tried to blow the horn as an experiment. It did not work but the entire electrical system shutdown for an instant with the vehicle in motion. On the way in I noticed the voltmeter needle making occasion flicks. I rolled the windows down and up while watching the needle. It would dip with each pressing of the switch.
This problem happened months and thousands of miles ago. I replaced the alternator since it failed a diagnostic per the Haynes. The problem went away until now.
This is beginning to sound more like a voltage regulator problem. The only electrical modification made is the horn which is a air horn driven by a 12V compressor.
Any ideas? Voltage regulator or ground? The truck has 210,000 miles.
Reg
This evening the engine started with a loud click from under the hood. It ran fine but when when I turned the headlights on the radio dimmed and the phone chirped with the dip in voltage. Later since this has occured before I tried to blow the horn as an experiment. It did not work but the entire electrical system shutdown for an instant with the vehicle in motion. On the way in I noticed the voltmeter needle making occasion flicks. I rolled the windows down and up while watching the needle. It would dip with each pressing of the switch.
This problem happened months and thousands of miles ago. I replaced the alternator since it failed a diagnostic per the Haynes. The problem went away until now.
This is beginning to sound more like a voltage regulator problem. The only electrical modification made is the horn which is a air horn driven by a 12V compressor.
Any ideas? Voltage regulator or ground? The truck has 210,000 miles.
Reg
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,977
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From: Virginia
I would loosen and clean connection points #1, #2, #3, and #4.
Your battery should be helping out the alternator if the alt gets into a situation where it gets overwhelmed. That is why I am leaning toward a loose/dirty connection somewhere.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
Franklin2,
Thanks for the information. I have had quite a few problems in the past from loose battery/starter wires.
All of the connections except 4 will be easy. Four will be a bit of a bear because the wire grounds on at least two places on the block.
If it's not toop expensive I will replace the regulator as well but I will try things after the cleaning just to see.
Reg
Thanks for the information. I have had quite a few problems in the past from loose battery/starter wires.
All of the connections except 4 will be easy. Four will be a bit of a bear because the wire grounds on at least two places on the block.
If it's not toop expensive I will replace the regulator as well but I will try things after the cleaning just to see.
Reg
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
that's too expensive. -2 pts for spelling.
Also, Franklin, why would the alternator be overwhelmed with normal loads? Or are you saying because of the problem it is getting overwhelmed?
With the horn button pressed the entire system momentarily shuts down. The battery is doing nothing to help.
Reg
Also, Franklin, why would the alternator be overwhelmed with normal loads? Or are you saying because of the problem it is getting overwhelmed?
With the horn button pressed the entire system momentarily shuts down. The battery is doing nothing to help.
Reg
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Laughing Gas
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 1
From: Richmond, VA
On the drive home this morning the horn worked and the lights came on without incident. I again watched the needle while the windows went up and down and it did not move.
Must be an electrical poltergeist. Or just a bad connection.
Reg
Must be an electrical poltergeist. Or just a bad connection.
Reg
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