Alternator Issues
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Stanchfield,MN
Alternator Issues
my dad has a 72 f-250 4x4 with a 360 and 4 speed. one day when he was driving he noticed that the headlgihts were kind of flickering, so he changed the voltage regulator. then the alternator quit charging so he also replaced that, and now we still cant get the alternator to charge. i was wondering if maybe we had a wire that was bad cause with the alternator hooked up you could take a wire tester and the whole outer case of the alternator would be hot, so now we moved one of the wires to a different spot on the alternator and it isnt hot anymore, but we still cant get a charge out of it. we are out of ideas so tomorrow we are going to a junkyard to look for a alternator wire harness for it. do any of you guys have any idea of what could be wrong?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2005
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As a pre check and inspection, check the following.
- Check the alternator belt.
- Check the battery connection at the starter solenoid and battery.
- Check the negative ground cable at the engine, make sure it is making good clean contact.
- Check for proper connections at the Voltage Regulator (VR) and at the back of the Alternator (Alt.). Check for any crack or loose wires.
- Check the fusable links from the starter solenoid to the alternator. Will need to peel back the rubber tape to expose the wires. Check the soldered connection where the fusable links are joined.
- Check ground from the body to the frame.
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Polson, Montana
I just went through the exact same thing. The new regulator I bought was bad. I took it back and they tested it and told me it was good. I replaced it anyway and tah dah! For 20 bucks, I would try another regulator. Hope this helps.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2005
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It could be that the alternator is hooked up incorrectly. Check out this thread for links in the electrical for wiring schematic to alternator. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3959...ight=electrical
Check the fusable link, connections and wires which runs from the starter solenoid (positive side towards battery) to the alternator, you will need to peel back the electrical tape to expose and inspect the fusable links, electrical wires, and the soldered connections.
Then you can peel back the electrical tape to expose the wires from the voltage regulator to the alternator joint connections. Check all connections, wires, and fusable links.
If you decide you do need a fuse link, here are the color codes with wire lengths.
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Check the fusable link, connections and wires which runs from the starter solenoid (positive side towards battery) to the alternator, you will need to peel back the electrical tape to expose and inspect the fusable links, electrical wires, and the soldered connections.
Then you can peel back the electrical tape to expose the wires from the voltage regulator to the alternator joint connections. Check all connections, wires, and fusable links.
If you decide you do need a fuse link, here are the color codes with wire lengths.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 237
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From: Stanchfield,MN
we got it fixed turned out it was the wiring. we went to a junkyard and found a 73 with a 360 and pulled the alternator/voltage reg wiring harness and plugged it into dads 72 and now everything works fine except for the flickering lights we cant quite figure that out yet. and now we found a really bad tie rod end when we were greasing the front end so now we have another project for this weekend.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2005
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Could be that the votage regulator is going out. With a voltage meter check the charging when the engine is running.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: nevada
If you just have a headlight prob, I would check that circuit. maybe replace the switch, they are cheap and easy to pull. Could be a bad ground, bad wire etc. Do they flicker only when driving, or all of the time? If you change reg, make sure it is bolted on before you hook wires to it.
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