First off, Im new here, and this is a great site. I have a 68 F100 Ranger, 3/4ton package, two tone Rangoon Red and White. From the Factory it came with an automatic tranny and a 360. The previous owner says it has a 351M in it. I dont think that is correct though. It looks like its the original motor in it. This is my first Ford (I traded my non-running 81 Toyota 4x4 for it). Now for my problem...The charging system isnt doing its job. I found this out coming down I-5 in Grants Pass Ore. My lights went dim, radio started to turn on and off. Finally it all went black and the truck died. I put a new alternator in it and was back on my way. Or so I thought. Coming through Siskyous pass from OR to CA It happened again. I spent the night in Yreka CA and put in a new voltage regulator and battery, because the old one was tested and had a bad cell. Im afraid this one might have a bad cell also. I can jump it and drive it for about 5 minutes then it dies again. Has anyone had this problem? One of the wires from the alternator to the voltage regulator is exposed and looks like it has burned through the insulation. Could that be a problem? Or the aftermarket CD player wired wrong? Anything else Im missing? It also has had all the charging system wires repaired and a new solenoid put in. I had a problem starting it the other day, but that was the Neutral safety switch, and I tightend the steering wheel and that fixed that. I need to get this charging system figured out...Please help! Thank you, IAN

 

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This is really bugging me...I need this thing fixed and Im Military, and have no money to take this to a shop and have them do it. Im a competent mechanic and I would really like to do it myself. Does anyone have and clues or hints as to why this truck isnt charging? I really, really need my truck back in running order. Thanks, IAN

 

I had a similar problem with a 70 ranchero in 1992. Mine began when I spazzed and hooked up the battery backwards. It put a surge thru the system that burned wires and after I thought I fixed it all, I was going up I-95 and lost my headlights. As I recall, I finally fixed it by replacing the solenoid AND voltage regulator at THE SAME TIME. Doing it incrementally would just kill the other one. You should definitely replace the exposed wiring that probably got that way from a surge. Either test the CD with a multimeter for correct ops, or disconnect it to eliminate it as a source of whatever is frying your VR and or solenoid. While the alternator may be a victum of your prob, I do not think it is the source. Good luck. You can find a systematic way of troubleshooting your primary electrical system on this site or on Fomoco.com (forums) by searching under "charging problem" or similar. Good Luck