Expedition Charging / Electrical problem

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Mar 22, 2005 | 06:37 PM

CSX

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Expedition Charging / Electrical problem

Bare with me please.
99 expedition battery indicator came on during heavy excelleration.
Had CD changer installed.
Battery died within 2 stops.
Replaced battery.
Instruments and guages no longer pegged out at ignition.
Indicator still came on during exceleration and then stayed on.
Ran fine for fine for a few months. Battery died.
Replaced Battery again. (long distant trip)
Seemed to run fine.
Several months later same symptoms replaced battery again.
Rebuilt Altenator.
same indications but seemed to run fine.
few months later, battery died again.
This time. Tried to replace battery. Cannot turn ignition key. Break pedal doesn't activate relay, AntiTheft light out, clock out, radio out. interior lights fine hood light fine.
HELP PLEASE. email directly at mohlers@net-magic.net.

Thanks

Mar 22, 2005 | 07:53 PM

the4by4freek

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From: North Carolina

Check the plug going to your alternator. I had the same problem with the light coming on during extreme acceleration. I replaced the alternator and it got worse! The battery died within 3 miles. I removed the alternator and returned it to the auto store where it was purchased. It was putting out great voltage but not enough amps. I got another alternator and installed it. Again the battery died. I unplugged the connection on the alternator and found too much di-electric grease in it. I took a Q-tip and cleaned some out and plugged it back in. That was a year ago! No more problems to date!

Mar 22, 2005 | 09:48 PM

CSX

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Charging/electrical/guages

4x4 freak, I appreciate your quick response. Did you have a guage problem also? The owners manual states that the guages should peg when the ignition is turned. This happened when we first got it, but hasn't since.

Thanks for your info.

Mar 24, 2005 | 06:55 PM

the4by4freek

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Quote:

Originally Posted by CSX

Gauge sweeping is a sign of a low or nearly dead battery. It signals that your ECM has been reset. Sounds like a classic alternator problem to me. Bring it to auto zone or advance auto and have the entire charging system checked. They will tell you exactly whats going on. Good luck, I hope you get it fixed!

Mar 24, 2005 | 07:43 PM

CSX

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Thanks 4x4 freak. When we first got this expedition the guages pegged. Every time I replace or disconnect and reconnect the battery the guages peg and reset. I have rebuilt the battery and the indicator is out (for now). It seemed that the guages pegging was normal. I am still thinking that the pegging is a normal condition. Am I goofy ??? You say low voltage condition causes this. When the alternator is not charging the battery and we stop for a bit, the pegging doesn't occur. Thanks again.

Jeff

Mar 24, 2005 | 07:52 PM

the4by4freek

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Every Expy or any Ford I have ever seen does the same thing. When you reset the ECM or disconnect the battery the gauges will sweep stating a reset condition. Mine don't sweep on startup, I have a Taurus also and it doesn't sweep on startup. I also have 2 other Expeditions in the family and they don't sweep. They are both 99's also. I would bring it in and hve the charging system checked. It will cost you nothing and then you'll know what you got.

Mar 24, 2005 | 08:24 PM

saltzy

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These folks are correct--The gauges only do that when there is a battery problem. Case-in-point today--I have an ongoing issue with a leak causing my GEM module to get wet, and this causes all sorts of problems, such as the fan/blower staying on even when the key is out of the truck.

It hasn't happened in weeks, but it was snowing/raining this morning and when I got to work, I didn't notice that the fan was still on as I got out of the truck. When I went back to it at 5:30 tonight, the battery was dead. I got a jump, it started right up, but the gauges did the reset/sweep thing as I did. The gauges do not do this under normal circumstances--it is a feature of the instrument cluster to self-check after a power reset (battery being disconnected/drained/dead).