Alternator dead??
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Alternator dead??
I have a 2002 Expedition 4X4, 5.4 L, auto trans. Been driving great! But....
Driving on the highway, I notice the voltage gauge dip way down low, then the "BATT" icon lights up, then the "ABS" icon lights up. My radar detector actually has a car batt voltage read out, & it's saying 9.4 and dropping. The voltage dropped so low at times, the dash display reset itself (all gauges went to min, then to max, then settled, all icons lit up in test etc...) all the cabin lights got very dim. Shut the engine off, & I watched the batt voltage climb from 7.9 to 10.8. Won't start though, just does the "clicking" thing, guess its solenoid chatter. Sound like alternator? I was going to check the voltage with the batt cables off, but I had family I had to take places, so we dropped truck off & took the car. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Gary
Driving on the highway, I notice the voltage gauge dip way down low, then the "BATT" icon lights up, then the "ABS" icon lights up. My radar detector actually has a car batt voltage read out, & it's saying 9.4 and dropping. The voltage dropped so low at times, the dash display reset itself (all gauges went to min, then to max, then settled, all icons lit up in test etc...) all the cabin lights got very dim. Shut the engine off, & I watched the batt voltage climb from 7.9 to 10.8. Won't start though, just does the "clicking" thing, guess its solenoid chatter. Sound like alternator? I was going to check the voltage with the batt cables off, but I had family I had to take places, so we dropped truck off & took the car. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated!!!
Gary
Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
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From: League City, TX
Originally Posted by Zip
Why not disconnect the battery while running. If the engine dies I would think alternator. Maybe it could be as simple as replacing the alt. brushes.
On another note, I replaced two batteries this year (1 expy and 1 mustang) and both cars did the same things you mentioned...I could jump start the car and it would run but the voltage gauge would jump around and the dash would reset. I'd drive around hoping it would charge the battery (my mustang acted like it wanted to stall at stop signs) and it would never restart without a jump. I too thought the alternator was the culprit.
Last edited by bridge; Nov 12, 2006 at 04:58 PM.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Durham, NC
Originally Posted by Zip
Why not disconnect the battery while running. If the engine dies I would think alternator. Maybe it could be as simple as replacing the alt. brushes.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Bowie USA
Just drop by any Advance Auto Parts or simular store and most of them have the equip to check you charging system.
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Thanks for all the replies everyone!!
Sorry, I forgot to mention I just had the batt replaced with a Die Hard Truck/SUV about a month ago. Also, after pulling on the shoulder & popping the hood when this all 1st started, I yanked on the batt cables and both moved fairly freely. Thinking I had it made, I grabbed a socket and tightened both down hard. In the truck they said the gauges went to normal for a few secs, and jumped back n forth, but never settled for good. Wonder what good it would do to maybe charge the batt over night? I think it measured about 9-10 volts when I left it.
Sorry, I forgot to mention I just had the batt replaced with a Die Hard Truck/SUV about a month ago. Also, after pulling on the shoulder & popping the hood when this all 1st started, I yanked on the batt cables and both moved fairly freely. Thinking I had it made, I grabbed a socket and tightened both down hard. In the truck they said the gauges went to normal for a few secs, and jumped back n forth, but never settled for good. Wonder what good it would do to maybe charge the batt over night? I think it measured about 9-10 volts when I left it.
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Junior User
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Ontario
Its your altenator, same thing happened to my 97 4x4 expedition 2 yrs ago, driving down the highway the dash gauges started to fluctuate thought it was a missfire gave it more gas, the truck and gauges ran fine for about 10-15 more miles then gauges acted up again andthe truck shut down, tried restarting and just click.
Had a feeling it was the alternator because boosting it did nothing more clicking, had it towed to ford dealer and said i think it needs a new alternator. New Altenator installed and its been fine the past 2 yrs.
Hope this helps out.
Had a feeling it was the alternator because boosting it did nothing more clicking, had it towed to ford dealer and said i think it needs a new alternator. New Altenator installed and its been fine the past 2 yrs.
Hope this helps out.
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OK guys, thanks again for all the help! I picked up an alt and replaced it and prob solved. The old one was out of a junk yard, I think, it had big blue magic marker numbers hand written all over it, and it may have been failing for a while, cus even the volt gauge on the truck dash is reading slightly higher than the old one B4 it failed completely. Reading a solid 14.4. HOWEVER, someone must have cracked the tensioner, cus a piece broke off when I tried releiving belt tension to remove belt from the alt! Talk about a SOB trying to push on tensioner with a bar to loosen belt! BUT, it all works OK! Just thought I'd let ya know, cus the way it failed was kinda weird compared to other cars/trucks I've driven/worked on.
Last edited by garytmb; Nov 18, 2006 at 12:00 AM.