Stumped
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Gig Harbor
Stumped
I have a 2000, F/350, 7.3L, 4X4 w/ 140K miles. Last week I posted that my battery idiot light flickers on and off and occasionally my voltage indicator spiked at 18 volts. It will never go below 14 volts (normal) but will bounce between 14 and 18. I assumed voltage regulator problem and fellow FTE members conformed this was probably the case. I went to our local Smart Mart (<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1
lace w:st="on">Tacoma</st1lace></st1:City>) and they “rebuilt” my started twice with the same results, flickering light and 14-18v spikes. This useless work cost me $120.00 and I drove out no better off. So they suggest a possible ground problem or computer problem? I called a vehicle electrical shop and explained the problem. They said Smart Mart sucks and the alternator is the problem….no he wants $$$ to replace the twice replaced alternator (that has a life time warranty) what say you all?
ffice:smarttags" /><st1:City w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Tacoma</st1lace></st1:City>) and they “rebuilt” my started twice with the same results, flickering light and 14-18v spikes. This useless work cost me $120.00 and I drove out no better off. So they suggest a possible ground problem or computer problem? I called a vehicle electrical shop and explained the problem. They said Smart Mart sucks and the alternator is the problem….no he wants $$$ to replace the twice replaced alternator (that has a life time warranty) what say you all?
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 0
From: Millbrook Alabama
Have a local auto parts store bench test your present alternator and give you a report. if it shows bad then
get a new(rebuilt) alternator form your local big box auto parts store, they will have a lifetime warranty on them, put it on and try it. if it doesn't work then take it back to the store and get your money back.
get a new(rebuilt) alternator form your local big box auto parts store, they will have a lifetime warranty on them, put it on and try it. if it doesn't work then take it back to the store and get your money back.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 25,090
Likes: 1,112
From: Rio Rico, AZ.
First off, it's unrealistic to ask a different shop to honor a warrenty from the previous job unless they are both owned by the same company.
What condition is your wiring harness? They are prone to burning out at the alternator. Your alternator could be bad as well and they just didn't rebuild it correctly.
Sometimes electrical gremlins are hard to catch, but if you go through the whole electrical system, cleaning all the connectors down to bright metal, replacing any corroded wires, that usually puts him back in his cage.
What condition is your wiring harness? They are prone to burning out at the alternator. Your alternator could be bad as well and they just didn't rebuild it correctly.
Sometimes electrical gremlins are hard to catch, but if you go through the whole electrical system, cleaning all the connectors down to bright metal, replacing any corroded wires, that usually puts him back in his cage.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 253
Likes: 1
Regulator is whats causing the variation in voltage. Unfortunately if the company that rebuilds the alt is not a great place they skip steps. Alt keeps the batteries charged. Regulator keeps the voltage from spiking or dropping as you turn on accessories. When the truck is running and you turn on your lights are they dim until you give it some pedal? or do the turn signals almost stop blinking when at a stop and then get faster again when you hit the pedal? Check it out
