Alternator problems?
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Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Vancouver - BC - Canada
Alternator problems?
1990 F-150
351W Automatic
My truck is having a few problems, maybe someone can shed some light on the situation if you have any ideas...
Both problems just started at the same time.
1.) While running at idle and in park, it will start squeaking like a belt is loose or an old pulley is starting to go. It is not a constant squeal, it is more like a (SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK) then after about 15 seconds of squeaking, the engine will just stall. It will start right back up with no problems and then start with the squeaking again after 20 seconds then stall again. I think it may be one of the pulleys, maybe the alternator... ??? I should mention, it has a new belt and was squeaking with the old belt as well. I changed it thinking that it would stop the squeak.
2.) While driving and keeping the truck in the (OD) position it does not want to shift up into the (OD) gear. I can convince it to shift but I need to bring it up to a highway speed and let go of the gas. It will shift up for a while but as soon as I decrease in speed it will shift back down. The transmission was rebuilt 3 years ago and have never had any problems with it. I was told two things...
a: It could be the the alternator is not putting out a good current and is interfering with the electronics that control the transmission shift.
b: I have also been told that it could be vacuum... there may be a vacuum line that has come off.
I think these two problems are related because it never stalled until now and I have just started having the problem with the transmission at the same time... Does anyone have a suggestion on what it could be?
Thx
351W Automatic
My truck is having a few problems, maybe someone can shed some light on the situation if you have any ideas...
Both problems just started at the same time.
1.) While running at idle and in park, it will start squeaking like a belt is loose or an old pulley is starting to go. It is not a constant squeal, it is more like a (SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK, SQUEAK) then after about 15 seconds of squeaking, the engine will just stall. It will start right back up with no problems and then start with the squeaking again after 20 seconds then stall again. I think it may be one of the pulleys, maybe the alternator... ??? I should mention, it has a new belt and was squeaking with the old belt as well. I changed it thinking that it would stop the squeak.
2.) While driving and keeping the truck in the (OD) position it does not want to shift up into the (OD) gear. I can convince it to shift but I need to bring it up to a highway speed and let go of the gas. It will shift up for a while but as soon as I decrease in speed it will shift back down. The transmission was rebuilt 3 years ago and have never had any problems with it. I was told two things...
a: It could be the the alternator is not putting out a good current and is interfering with the electronics that control the transmission shift.
b: I have also been told that it could be vacuum... there may be a vacuum line that has come off.
I think these two problems are related because it never stalled until now and I have just started having the problem with the transmission at the same time... Does anyone have a suggestion on what it could be?
Thx
Last edited by randallc; Jan 9, 2006 at 10:37 AM.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,992
Likes: 2,741
From: Virginia
Do some testing. Get a voltmeter and read the battery terminals with the engine off. Then read the terminals with the engine running. Keep reading the terminals when it starts squeaking. If the voltage is getting higher and higher as it starts squeaking, I would believe there is something wrong with the alternator.
