Charge light stays on
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Charge light stays on
My 1998 Ford Ranger stepside 2wd has 135k miles on it and still runs great, the problem is that the charge light stays on as of yesterday. Before I take it in to a shop and spend needless $$ I would like any insight into what might be causing it. Any suggestions?
Kevin Allen
Kevin Allen
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On the dashboard where all the other dummy lights are located, example: seatbelt, airbag and the dummy light for the charge light is a car battery. In the past everytime you start the truck, the charge light goes on and when the truck starts the light would go off...now it stays on.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Ventura ,ca. (near L.A.)
your truck should be putting out at least 12 volts. Normal operating voltaage is usually 14-14.6 volts. It will usually throw a code or turn on the charge light if you drop down to 10 or 11 volts. You will noticed that your truck will crank a lot slower if the battery is slowly dieing and usually once you go below 10 volts is wont crank fast enough to start or cant produce enough voltage to run the computer so that it will fire.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2005
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From: penn twp.
Usually when the charge light stays on it is a sign that your alternator is starting to go bad. But not always the case. It could be that there is either a short somewhere in your charging system or a bad sensor in the system. Or even mean that your truck is have a draw prblem. Either whay you should have it checked out. I'd be willing to bet that with amount of mileage if that is your original alternator on the truck then that would be your problem.
Freshman User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Virginia, USA
A lot of the parts stores around here have a free test of the charging system to determine if it's the alternator or battery going bad. Call around and see if any of the auto parts dealers near you offer that. Then you will only have to pay for parts.
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From: SW Va
What is your dashboard volt meter showing Kevin????
If the alternator isn't outputting, it'll indicate low.
I like nibyak's suggestion of running this puppy by your local autoparts store for a electrical system check out, via their portable tester, it can properly load test the system & sniff out any weak or faulty components.
But from your description, it sounds like the alternator would be high on the suspect list!!!!
Don't drive it long like this, if the alternator isn't putting out, you'll soon run the battery down too!!!!
Let us know what you find.
If the alternator isn't outputting, it'll indicate low.
I like nibyak's suggestion of running this puppy by your local autoparts store for a electrical system check out, via their portable tester, it can properly load test the system & sniff out any weak or faulty components.
But from your description, it sounds like the alternator would be high on the suspect list!!!!
Don't drive it long like this, if the alternator isn't putting out, you'll soon run the battery down too!!!!
Let us know what you find.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 298
Likes: 3
You probably just need brushes
You probably just need brushes. 9 out of 10 times this means you need brushes in your alt. Why pay big$$ when you can fix for under $15. Pull it, check them, if bad put them in, if not buy another alt.