Okay, bought a new battery at walmart (everstart 56-5N). Went out to my uncles house to pick up my f150 for the first time (he told me in advance that i'd need a battery). Went, hooked up the battery (which walmart said was allready charged and ready to go). turned the ignition, and heard the "click" of the starter, just not enough power to turn over the engine, okay, so my uncle hooked up his car, and jumped my new battery, sure enough, the truck fired up. He left his car run for a good long time hooked up to my battery (10 min maybe more). Drove truck home, let it sit in driveway. drove it around at night with headlights on for a couple nights, not very long though (max 30 min, in town driving.) Went to start it today, and all i got was "click". Hooked up my jumper pack, and it started, ran for like 2 min, then died, so i did the whole process all over again, ran for 2 min, then died. So i put in the extra alternator my uncle sent along with me (which he said was still good). Hooked up the battery to the charger, started it up, and let it run for 3 min, then it died. I looked in my haynes manual, and it says there are supposed to be 3 wires connecting to the alternator: orange/blue stripe, black/orange stripe, and white/black stripe. I only have the orange/blue strip, black/orange stripe. Where does the white/black wire go? could this be causing my problem or is it the el'cheapo wally world battery?

 

Normally the first thing to check is for a good ground. (We will assume for a minute that the WallyWorld battery is good) Make sure the battery terminal lugs are tight. I use a philips screwdriver to tap three little X's between the terminal post and the lug to be sure I am getting contact. Trace the ground wire from the battery down to the frame and across to the engine block. Make certain each connection is CLEAN and TIGHT, remove any corrosion. If you have a VOM (Volt Ohm Meter) check the voltage from the hot side of the battery to the engine where the battery is grounded. If you do not read 13.4 volts, you don't have a good ground or the battery is weak.

The white/black wire should go to the electric choke.

 

and if i have an efi there is no electric choke right? So there is no need for a white/black wire. Is this correct thinking? or doe is just go somewhere else?

 

Are the little "x"s for roughing up the surface?

If so, I would think it would make 100% contact being smooth, but wire brushed.

Steve