Just checking in to see if anyone has had a similar problem. About 9 months ago my truck was starting to turn over slow after sitting over night. So I went out and bought 2 new batteries to replace the stock Motorcraft units. All was well for about 2 weeks then in the middle of the worst storm of the year I pulled in to get fuel and when I went to restart she was dead. So I got a jump and headed to the AutoZone to pick up a new alternator with a lifetime warranty. I put the new alternator in in the parking lot. (really makes me feel like a shadetree mechanic) Got another jump and all was well. Now about a month ago I noticed the lights pulsating from bright to dim at about the same rate as say the blinkers. Its a very suttle pulsation and at first I thought it was just my eyes but last night my buddy asked what was going on with my lights. Not just the headlights but the dash, the dome, and any other light that may be lit. This only happens when the truck is running. So what I am wondering is if the alternator was checking out if that could happen? Or has anyone had a similar problem?

Let me know what you guys think

 

My alternator failed after 40K miles on my 2005 EX.

It left me stranded in Victorville at a sad-sack lame ford dealer called "Sunland" on Palmdale.

SEVEN friggin' hours after arriving at 08:00 they managed to find someone to bolt on a new alternator so I could leave.

They charged me $550 dollars for the joy of hanging around all day while the clueless retards in the service dept. went about thier hapless duties.


....actually the border-buddy mechanic knew how to read a volt meter (all that was required-and read the same as mine....duh) the true morons were "Danny" (pimple-faced 130 pound service writer) and Andrew Gates, the typical "Slick-*****" service manager who ran and hid when asked to do his job...

ALL of this My bad in that I left home wondering about some charging problems- intermittent- and those of you who have a clue know that intermittent electrical problems are tough.

HOWEVER after the complete failure brought about by 200 miles of continuous high-speed driving made it possible for me to test and determine EXACTLY what was wrong, they did not act on my information and wasted hours and hours and hours of my time.

I could go on, and on, and on, but since no reputable manufacturers of motor vehicles make anything like an Ex, and I knew that going in...and broke my 2 decade long "no domestic crap" pledge to buy one, I will stop...

....I still love my EX....just wish a motor-vehicle company with a clue would make one...

_____________________
Quietman
www.roenation.com
2005 EXCURSION LIMITED-options (everything) equipped Eddie Bauer edition 4X4 PSD
4" FabTech lift/level, Bilstein $$ mono-gas shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer
Silverstar 9005 fog and H13ST headlights + wiring mod to run high beam and fogs together,
BFG 315/75/16 AT KO's on Factory Mags, 22" front and 18" rear rain-x wipers,
LANDYOT Generation II Radius Rods, Ford factory hood insulator

 

Hey Oil Pig!!!
There is a known problem with the harness connector on the alternator output. Make sure your "eye" connector and the spade connectore inside the plastic push-in
plug are clean and not corroded.
Double check the crimp and condition on the eye connector. You may want to put a voltmeter on the battery with the Exc off and check the volts at idle and 2000 rpm.
Then, wiggle the connectors and see if the volts drop- if so that's the problem.

Other fun-to-do checks:
How does the serpentine belt look???
What condition are the battery cables and connectors in??
Are all the engine room to body connectors clean and tight??


I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE FOMOCO DIDN"T PUT A VOLT OR AMP METER ON A $$ 50,000 TRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least mine ('02, 7.3, 4wd) gets 19 to 21 mpg hwy!!!!!

Ciao,
Godfather / Greg

 

Thanks for the info I will check it out later today and let you know what I find.

I agree a voltmeter would of been nice along with a tranny gauge that actually provided more info then a light.

I don't know how you are getting mileage that high. I am running a 4" exhaust, cold air intake, and Diablo at 60hp and the best I can do is 15.5. But I like to run around 75-80 on the hwy.

 

Had the same problem. Replaced original alternator with an AutoZone alternator. 1 month later it was back to the same old problem. Had to have my vehicle towed and repaired at a dealership to the tune of $500. The dealership let me buy my alternator back and I took it back to AutoZone for a full refund of the part price. No refund of the towing, rental vehicle or losing an entire day. Good news is that I haven't had any problems since.

I have a big complaint about the X. Why doesn't it have a dual alternator system like the big trucks? Has anyone out there added the dual alternator system to their X??

 

I am having some trouble as well, but it's because I drive a very short distance to and from work daily.

For the money of two alternators, just buy one big one. I have a 230amp going into mine. I got a tsunami, but it is made by HO alternators. Customer service seems good, the first one sent to me was miss ordered and we cleared it up quick.

 

My problem was the plug as GodFather suggested. The "eye" connector was fine but when I wiggled the rectangle plug the problems went away. I am going to try to get a new plug from ford. I remember changing out an alt on an older Escort and the new alt came with the plug and a note saying if the new connector wasn't used the warranty was void. I never changed those plugs without ever having a problem. But this old girl uses a bit more juice to wake her up in the morning.

Now all I have to do is get my Keyless entery system working right. Oh yea and my vents. Right now my key fobs won't stay programmed and the heat either comes out the defrost or the floor never the dash vents.

Thanks everyone for all your help