Battery/Alternator Problem on 99 Expedition
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Battery/Alternator Problem on 99 Expedition
Hello, my name is Paul and I am new to the forum. I purchased a 99 Expedition Saturday, and love it. Yesterday the battery light woud come on at high rpms >3000 and then go off. This afternoon it started flashing really fast, almost like strobing, and the battery gauge started to go low. Well I got it home, and later tonite, turned the key to the accessory position. All radios, lights, etc was off. The battery gauge kept fluctuating up and down with the car OFF.
Is the battery or alternator? I think it may be the battery since voltage was fluctuating with the engine off, but hey, im not a mechanic
. My other thought was that the alternator may not be charging the battery, becuase the battery may have a bad cell, hence the battery gauge kept fluctuating when the engine was off. Any advice would be appreciated.
Is the battery or alternator? I think it may be the battery since voltage was fluctuating with the engine off, but hey, im not a mechanic
. My other thought was that the alternator may not be charging the battery, becuase the battery may have a bad cell, hence the battery gauge kept fluctuating when the engine was off. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
Welcome to FTE. You can have both the battery and the alternator tested at Auto Zone etc. to be sure. Is the check engine light on? Any trouble codes? Do you have a multi meter so you can do some testing for shorts etc.? How old is the battery?
I also have a 99. Once you fix your problem you will love it.
I also have a 99. Once you fix your problem you will love it.
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Originally Posted by trike1946
Welcome to FTE. You can have both the battery and the alternator tested at Auto Zone etc. to be sure. Is the check engine light on? Any trouble codes? Do you have a multi meter so you can do some testing for shorts etc.? How old is the battery?
I also have a 99. Once you fix your problem you will love it.
I also have a 99. Once you fix your problem you will love it.
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From: Grimsby, ON
I had the exact same problem in my 2000. I ended up having the alternator, serpentine and the tensioner replaced. It appeared the tensioner had gone which was causing the problems at the high rpms and overtime wore the alternator out.
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From: North Attleboro, MA
EMS Guru,
I had the exact same symptoms on my '99 XLT about a year ago, the day before I was to take a trip no less. I had the battery tested at Auto Zone and the voltage, etc was within normal limits. Started getting really wierd while driving, battery light was on and the voltage gauge would spike and drop repeatedly. Got it back to the hotel that I was staying at and shut the truck down and I couldn't get it to start. I let it sit for the night and got a jump in the morning and was able to make it home ok. The whole ride home I was relatively symptom free. Took it into the dealership the next day and they replaced the battery and the alternator. I beleive they said the alternator went and ended damagaing the battery significantly enough to warrant replacement. Hope this helps.
Smitty
P.S. Are you a medic or EMT?
I had the exact same symptoms on my '99 XLT about a year ago, the day before I was to take a trip no less. I had the battery tested at Auto Zone and the voltage, etc was within normal limits. Started getting really wierd while driving, battery light was on and the voltage gauge would spike and drop repeatedly. Got it back to the hotel that I was staying at and shut the truck down and I couldn't get it to start. I let it sit for the night and got a jump in the morning and was able to make it home ok. The whole ride home I was relatively symptom free. Took it into the dealership the next day and they replaced the battery and the alternator. I beleive they said the alternator went and ended damagaing the battery significantly enough to warrant replacement. Hope this helps.
Smitty
P.S. Are you a medic or EMT?
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Originally Posted by Smitty1019
EMS Guru,
I had the exact same symptoms on my '99 XLT about a year ago, the day before I was to take a trip no less. I had the battery tested at Auto Zone and the voltage, etc was within normal limits. Started getting really wierd while driving, battery light was on and the voltage gauge would spike and drop repeatedly. Got it back to the hotel that I was staying at and shut the truck down and I couldn't get it to start. I let it sit for the night and got a jump in the morning and was able to make it home ok. The whole ride home I was relatively symptom free. Took it into the dealership the next day and they replaced the battery and the alternator. I beleive they said the alternator went and ended damagaing the battery significantly enough to warrant replacement. Hope this helps.
Smitty
P.S. Are you a medic or EMT?
I had the exact same symptoms on my '99 XLT about a year ago, the day before I was to take a trip no less. I had the battery tested at Auto Zone and the voltage, etc was within normal limits. Started getting really wierd while driving, battery light was on and the voltage gauge would spike and drop repeatedly. Got it back to the hotel that I was staying at and shut the truck down and I couldn't get it to start. I let it sit for the night and got a jump in the morning and was able to make it home ok. The whole ride home I was relatively symptom free. Took it into the dealership the next day and they replaced the battery and the alternator. I beleive they said the alternator went and ended damagaing the battery significantly enough to warrant replacement. Hope this helps.
Smitty
P.S. Are you a medic or EMT?
I took it over to Advance Auto and had them run a Battery/Load/Alternator Tester and heres what happened.
Battery went from 12.39V to 9.03V when 100A load was applied for 10 seconds every 20 seconds for a minute.
Then when the alternator had same load put on it, battery went from 11.3 down to 5.21V and the car died. The alternator is DOA, which farked up the battery and thats DOA as well now. I have it in the shop to replace the Alternator, and I told the mechanic let me know when it is ready, and I will drop a new battery in myself when I go to pick it up.
BTW, im an EMT Student that works at the Regional EMS Council doing everything from answering phones, to fixing computers to repairing various equipment, i.e. defibrillators, ALS training equipment, testing equipment for National Registry testing, making new ALS drug boxes, etc.. hence I know a lot of ALS stuff.
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