Charging issue
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Junior User
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 52
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Charging issue
Hey folks,
My vehicle is a '96 2.3L Ranger w/ 185,000 miles. Stock vehicle, meaning there is nothing that needs power.
I have replaced the battery this week after it left me on the side of the road and the parts store said it wasn't holding a charge. The battery was 6yo.
Now, the battery gauge on the dash is registering rather low and the battery light stays on. Once I get into higher rpms the battery gauge jumps up to where it seems was the nomal range, the light goes out and my headlights become brighter.
There was a fair amount of corrosion on the cables and posts of the old battery and I have since cleaned the cables as much as possible with H2SO4 battery cleaner & acid detector. Cables are stock.
My alternator was replaced in '01.
My question to you guys is where to start?
thanks in advance
My vehicle is a '96 2.3L Ranger w/ 185,000 miles. Stock vehicle, meaning there is nothing that needs power.
I have replaced the battery this week after it left me on the side of the road and the parts store said it wasn't holding a charge. The battery was 6yo.
Now, the battery gauge on the dash is registering rather low and the battery light stays on. Once I get into higher rpms the battery gauge jumps up to where it seems was the nomal range, the light goes out and my headlights become brighter.
There was a fair amount of corrosion on the cables and posts of the old battery and I have since cleaned the cables as much as possible with H2SO4 battery cleaner & acid detector. Cables are stock.
My alternator was replaced in '01.
My question to you guys is where to start?
thanks in advance
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,965
Likes: 2,725
From: Virginia
Get a voltmeter, and with the engine running, check the voltage at the battery terminals. It should be something like 14.0, 14.5, 14.7, somewhere in that neighborhood voltage wise. If it's low, and the alt belt is ok, then you may have something wrong with the alternator itself.
