Fading Battery
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Fading Battery
Hey guys, hope I got this in the right forum.
Heres my situation:
I own a 94 250, ex cab, 4x4, 460, auto, with about 163,000 on the clock.
About eight months ago I installed a stereo with a Pioneer head unit, 300 watt amp, and one ten inch sub. All of the wiring and connections are sized right and installed correctly.
The problem is, that out of nowhere the battery is dead. First time this happened I had the battery checked (found to be five years old and used up) and replaced. Problem solved until two days ago when I opened the door and the dome light wouldn't even come on (completely drained!)
I'm being very optomistic about my stereo wiring skills so here are my theories.
a: the altenator is gone (what is the typical life expectency?)
b: My ignition switch is very sloppy and frankly broken. I can remove the key while driving down the road. Could the electrical system not be shutting down upon turning the truck off?
thanks,
Brent
Heres my situation:
I own a 94 250, ex cab, 4x4, 460, auto, with about 163,000 on the clock.
About eight months ago I installed a stereo with a Pioneer head unit, 300 watt amp, and one ten inch sub. All of the wiring and connections are sized right and installed correctly.
The problem is, that out of nowhere the battery is dead. First time this happened I had the battery checked (found to be five years old and used up) and replaced. Problem solved until two days ago when I opened the door and the dome light wouldn't even come on (completely drained!)
I'm being very optomistic about my stereo wiring skills so here are my theories.
a: the altenator is gone (what is the typical life expectency?)
b: My ignition switch is very sloppy and frankly broken. I can remove the key while driving down the road. Could the electrical system not be shutting down upon turning the truck off?
thanks,
Brent
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 1
From: Athens, Alabama
When you attached the amplifier wire to the battery, did you make sure that the battery terminal was making a good connection and not loose? If this is not the case, then your alternator is spent. Disconnect amp power for a while and see if this allows the battery to charge. If it does, then upgrade your alternator or consider putting a .5 farad capacitor between the battery and amp. The capacitor will monitor the current drawn by the amp as well as increase amplifier life and provide deeper bass notes. By the way, a capacitor is cheaper than an alternator. Good luck!
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 98
Likes: 1
From: Athens, Alabama
If you have any other questions about a capacitor, refer to this thread..... https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=336135
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,005
Likes: 2,750
From: Virginia
The first thing you need to do is see if it is charging. Take a voltmeter and read the battery voltage out at the terminals with the truck off. Then take another reading at the battery with the truck running. If the reading you take is higher than the reading when the truck was off, then the alternator is charging(should be around 13.5-14.5 volts running).
If that checks out, then you can do a battery drain test. If the light glows bright, the you have a battery drain. and you can start pulling stuff off and pulling fuses till the light goes out. If you can't get it to go out, pull the alternator wires off and see if it goes out.
If that checks out, then you can do a battery drain test. If the light glows bright, the you have a battery drain. and you can start pulling stuff off and pulling fuses till the light goes out. If you can't get it to go out, pull the alternator wires off and see if it goes out.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,237
Likes: 3
From: Belleville, Ontario
Welcome to FTE !
That part about your ingnition lock may have something to do with it as well. You should pull it apart to check the wear at the switch & be sure that it does not leave the power on after you shut the truck off.
AL.
AL.
