97 Explorer steering/battery problem
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
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From: Gilbert, AZ
the instrument cluster gauge in the dash.... when i first turn the truck on, it hovers close to the "L", as it warms up a bit, it slowly starts moving higher. then, when i drive, it goes higher the faster i drive, and lower the slower i drive, and close to L when i stop like at a red light. lately, its getting better... i dont know why, as it didnt do any of this until it rained alot.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 249
Likes: 2
From: AZ
My 95 Explorer was doing the same thing, steering wheel shaking and trembling turning a corner around town; turns out the battery was going out, wouldn't keep charged up enough, alternator was ok. Installed new battery and power steering was back to normal after that.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
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From: Gilbert, AZ
kinda stuck on where to go from here... this is frustrating. the readings with the multi meter seem to change every time i take a reading.... i am taking it on wednesday back to autozone to have the charging system diagnosed again. i hope the same thing doesnt show up (bad alternator) because there is a brand new one in there.....i guess if the machine they use shows it normal i will have to take it to the dealer...
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 68
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hey beast
look at the 2 wire plug on the back of the alternator do you have a lightgreen wire with red stripe on it? if so please connect just that wire to ground with the plug unplug from the alternator then turn on the key and tell me if the battery light turns on then we will go from there.
mountaineer man
look at the 2 wire plug on the back of the alternator do you have a lightgreen wire with red stripe on it? if so please connect just that wire to ground with the plug unplug from the alternator then turn on the key and tell me if the battery light turns on then we will go from there.
mountaineer man
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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Originally Posted by mountaineer man
hey beast
look at the 2 wire plug on the back of the alternator do you have a lightgreen wire with red stripe on it? if so please connect just that wire to ground with the plug unplug from the alternator then turn on the key and tell me if the battery light turns on then we will go from there.
mountaineer man
look at the 2 wire plug on the back of the alternator do you have a lightgreen wire with red stripe on it? if so please connect just that wire to ground with the plug unplug from the alternator then turn on the key and tell me if the battery light turns on then we will go from there.
mountaineer man
the wire color is correct but the number of wire in the plug at the alternator is incorrect there is a 3 wire plug on the back.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 805
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From: Pauline, South Carolina
Post a list of conditions and readings from the multimeter. Without some idea of what differences you're seeing, it's hard to tell much about it. Also, did you ever get a digital meter that you believe to be reliable?
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
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From: Gilbert, AZ
alright. wednesday is the next day i can do anything with it..... its my first day off from work for like 7 days...i still only have an analog meter and will use that. i replaced the AA battery with a new one and tested a few things like house current, AA batteries, and a 9 volt battery. its good so far. will get back to you on wednesday some time.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
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From: Gilbert, AZ
alright fella's... problem seems to be gone now. i had a new gatorback belt put on. made sure it was the right one and i paid more for the better one (its a goodyear belt). now my voltage gauge in the dash seems to be working normal. i had autozone recheck with their VAT machine and came up with the same condition, bad alternator (bad diode). so i took it to my father in law who is a 30 year+ mechanic and he tested it with his own snap-on microvat and it all tested normal and better than rated. like the battery is rated at 750 cca but it tested at like 830 cca. operating at 109% efficiency. voltage regulator, starter, battery, and alternator all tested well within normal ranges. so, guess the original problem was just a bad belt. probably didnt even need a new alternator but i'm glad i got a new one anyway... truck has 86000 miles. thanks for the help, i will get down there later and check voltages again with my meter and post results.
btw: the old belt was very flimsy and thin... kinda like a rubber band. the new one was very stiff and well-made. it was at least twice as thick as the old one
btw: the old belt was very flimsy and thin... kinda like a rubber band. the new one was very stiff and well-made. it was at least twice as thick as the old one
Last edited by 4.0 Beast; Mar 22, 2006 at 11:38 AM.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 504
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From: Gilbert, AZ
belt is also turning much, much faster. before you could almost watch markings go by as the belt turned... thats how slow it was. now, its honestly at least twice as fast....i'm assuming because the old belt was slipping. tension seems to be about the same. don't know if they used the wrong belt last time or what. but i'm a happy camper! its good to go.
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