Battery Gauge
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Charm City
Battery Gauge
Hooray! A new symptom...
Ok. My battery gauge dips while driving. It goes down to just over 1/4 for awhile, then comes back up to 1/2. Occasionally it'll spike to about 3/4 and drop back down.
There are no other symptoms. It starts every time, no weird noises... nothing.
Is this an indication of the alternator? Belt slippage? the battery itself?
Any ideas?
Ok. My battery gauge dips while driving. It goes down to just over 1/4 for awhile, then comes back up to 1/2. Occasionally it'll spike to about 3/4 and drop back down.
There are no other symptoms. It starts every time, no weird noises... nothing.
Is this an indication of the alternator? Belt slippage? the battery itself?
Any ideas?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Charm City
Update:
Ok, I've got another symptom. This is the first time I've driven it at night since it started. When the battery gauge dips, the dash lights get dimmer.
So, I'm pretty sure that the gauge is reading correctly.
Now... ideas? Alternator? Battery cable? Belt? etc...
Ok, I've got another symptom. This is the first time I've driven it at night since it started. When the battery gauge dips, the dash lights get dimmer.
So, I'm pretty sure that the gauge is reading correctly.
Now... ideas? Alternator? Battery cable? Belt? etc...
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
Trending Topics
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Well I'd run this puppy by your favorite autoparts store, like Advance Auto, AutoZone, ect & let them use their portable machine to do a no cost, LOAD test of the entire vehicle electrical system, right in the vehicle.
This equiptment can load test the battery, alternator & regulator. If any component is weak or faulty, it'll likely sniff it out.
Could be anything from a shorting battery cell, to defective regulator, to worn alternator slip~ring brushes as Bob Ayers suggested, to damaged insulation on a wire being blown about at speed & grounding out, to.... well you get the idea.
Get those basic electrical system components LOAD checked & see if it'll point toward something specific.
Let us know what you find.
This equiptment can load test the battery, alternator & regulator. If any component is weak or faulty, it'll likely sniff it out.
Could be anything from a shorting battery cell, to defective regulator, to worn alternator slip~ring brushes as Bob Ayers suggested, to damaged insulation on a wire being blown about at speed & grounding out, to.... well you get the idea.
Get those basic electrical system components LOAD checked & see if it'll point toward something specific.
Let us know what you find.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Charm City
Thanks! I had already taken it to Advance to get that test done, but their mobile tester was down, so I was only able to test the battery... Which is good (I was hoping it was bad).
I'm gonna take it to another one today and have the entire test done.
I'll be sure to post the results.
I'm gonna take it to another one today and have the entire test done.
I'll be sure to post the results.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 13,851
Likes: 111
From: SW Va
Ok BassGuy, Bob Ayers called that one right on.
How did you determine for shure it was the alternator?? Did you find a Advance with some operating portable test equipt??
Get that puppy fixed & back on the road to the lake, cause the big ones are gettin away while your tinkering with the Ranger.
Gotta wait for the storms to abate, so I can get back to my bass fishing on my home waters. I drag a Tracker 175 with the Ranger. Good fishing. pawpaw
How did you determine for shure it was the alternator?? Did you find a Advance with some operating portable test equipt??
Get that puppy fixed & back on the road to the lake, cause the big ones are gettin away while your tinkering with the Ranger.
Gotta wait for the storms to abate, so I can get back to my bass fishing on my home waters. I drag a Tracker 175 with the Ranger. Good fishing. pawpaw
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
From: Charm City
Well, it died during the charging test at Advance. So... yeah, alternator. Works like a charm now. I'd just never seen an alternator die so slowly before, so I was a bit confused.
As for the fish... Wrong "Bass". I'm a bassist, as in bass guitar.
As for the fish... Wrong "Bass". I'm a bassist, as in bass guitar.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
harrisford
1983 - 2012 Ranger & B-Series
2
Dec 23, 2012 09:29 AM