Charging problem
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2003
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Charging problem
On my 92 F150 5.8l Around thanksgiving I put a new checker battery and Reman Alternator in it. THe voltage gauge did not stay steady I noticed right away. With high throttle it would get really high, But always in the "normal" range and durring idol it would drop down to the "N" or around there some times. Being a reman and becasue it was still in the normal range I did not let it concern me. THe other night I was driving it and noticed it was lower than normal (past the "N")and would not respond to the throttle. THe next morrning the batter was almost completly dead. I jumped it and it read just over 8 volts wiht teh truck running. SO that evening I went to Checker and had them test it. They said the battery had a dead cell and gave me a new one. Put it in and it was still reading low like the night before. Tested the Alternator and it was only putting out 12.6 volts. Gave me a new alternator and was going to put it on tonight. it was dead again but i thought the regulator might be fried and causing a draw. So I just got done putting it on and nothing still, it is only putting out 12.5 volts Is there something else I am over looking? Could have it fried some wiring? with the truck off I can not see any arching when i touch the battery cable to the terminal, I big draw that kills the battery over noight you think I could see?
Any ideas would be very helpfull right now.
PS alternator is internally regulated
Thanks
Any ideas would be very helpfull right now.
PS alternator is internally regulated
Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
coloradotoy
Are you checking the voltage with a voltmeter at the battery with the engine running and revved up some? You won't get full charge for the alternator at idle.
Have you tried checking for a short? Unhook your negative terminal hook a test light between the terminal end and the battery post, if the test light glows, it has some draw. Unplug the fuse's one at a time until the test light goes out. That's your circuit with the short. But of course the radio memory is going to pull some also. Maybe you could pull it first and see what happens.
The alternator should be putting out more than that I would think, and you should not be killing a battery overnight.
Are you checking the voltage with a voltmeter at the battery with the engine running and revved up some? You won't get full charge for the alternator at idle.
Have you tried checking for a short? Unhook your negative terminal hook a test light between the terminal end and the battery post, if the test light glows, it has some draw. Unplug the fuse's one at a time until the test light goes out. That's your circuit with the short. But of course the radio memory is going to pull some also. Maybe you could pull it first and see what happens.
The alternator should be putting out more than that I would think, and you should not be killing a battery overnight.
