Alternator...
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
Alternator...
so i just had my headgaskets replaced and when i got my truck back my battery light came on....so i thought i would change the batteries over the weekend (this was tues) wed. went driving w/ a buddy shut the truck off, went to start...nothing but clicks....so i got a jump from a friendly local and went on...mind you no battery light is on....next thing i know gauges quit working, tranny wont shift, turn signals don't work.....i limped home and changed batteries next day....sat. went to truck race @ kentucky speedway (1.5hrs from home) made it down no problems...on the way back in traffic truck shut down again.....and stranded me in ky....towed to the dealer on sunday...got the call yesterday alternator is bad...now for my question......will your alternator just fall off the edge like that and not hold a charge? what should an alternator read out at? i know you can have these things tested at autozone or wherever and they can tell you if it is good or bad.....i've had so many problems w/ my dealer lately that it is just coincidence that this happens right after a major repair.....
and funny thing, guess who gave me the tickets to the race....yup, my dealer....jokes on me!!
and funny thing, guess who gave me the tickets to the race....yup, my dealer....jokes on me!!
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
Yes they will fall off, but usually they just die. If you had your batteries replaced it's pretty normal for places like autozone to check the whole charging system not just the batteries, unless you just took them the batteries. Batteries get load tested, usually, before they are replaced and if not charged before hand can kill an alternator quickly.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,078
Likes: 0
From: Rural WV
I know that I recently went through alt problems with my gasser. I had a fried terminal on the back of the alt. That in-turn allowed the battery to die since it wasn't being charged...and it burnt up the alt because it couldnt' deliver the power it was generating to the battery. I wound up replacing both the battery (thankfully under warrenty) and the alt to fix my issues.
Joe
Joe
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 21
My alternator went in one day!!!
All was well for 90,000 miles when all of a sudden my guages, radio all went limp... then it came back on. Got home, and upon trying to restart nothing.
I charged up and took to local mechanic (3 minutes away and nothing turned on to concserve battery energy). The batteries were dead (discharged) and the alternator was barely making power.
After 4 hours and $200, I had a new alternator (aftermarket) and all is well. My batteries came back and the "eye" in each battery has returned to green.
With 100,400 miles on the ODO, all is well... and yes... alternators can and will just die.... and its when your batteries get fully drained that you notice your problem.
All was well for 90,000 miles when all of a sudden my guages, radio all went limp... then it came back on. Got home, and upon trying to restart nothing.
I charged up and took to local mechanic (3 minutes away and nothing turned on to concserve battery energy). The batteries were dead (discharged) and the alternator was barely making power.
After 4 hours and $200, I had a new alternator (aftermarket) and all is well. My batteries came back and the "eye" in each battery has returned to green.
With 100,400 miles on the ODO, all is well... and yes... alternators can and will just die.... and its when your batteries get fully drained that you notice your problem.
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 21
Originally Posted by greendiesel
Mine alt went with 65,000 miles and Ford replace free with 100$ deductable.
The alternator is NOT covered under the 100,000 diesel motor warrenty.
I checked... that is why I went to a local mechanic near me.
See... the "dealership" is not as bad as some make them out to be on these boards!!!
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
tell me about it...$482 to replace alternator.....i thought coulda been a result of previous service work..i.e. bad connection/ground a short...so i took it back to dealer..local mech and my own garage is about 30 miles away so it was too far to go..sometimes you just have to pay for convienance i guess...never again to dealer warranty is out and $90/hr for labor is a$$inine!!
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Diesel User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Berkshires, MA
One Solution
I had the same problem, no battery light. I was working on another issue with the dealer and was lucky enough that it freaked out just before I got there and I was able to pull in before it died. I had a car hauler in tow and just made it in and parked it out of the way. A year earlier, while in their possession and under warranty, the batteries both went dead. No warnings. The transmission temp gauge is the reason why we don't have a voltmeter. I don't see a real reason for not simply adding a fifth gauge. The idiot light is not even for idiots, its is actually idiotic.
Solution:
I bought a cheap DC outlet charge/battery meter from a camping/RV company for 12 bucks. I plug it in the power point on the dash and I get the current DC voltage reading! It is cheaper than installing a voltmeter gauge. Going down the road it is at a steady 13.9 volts.
I've noticed that my charging does not start right away, maybe this is why the batt light isn't allowed to work until the batteries are completely dead, it would come on especially after starting. Maybe if there was a time delay (to keep it off) after starting it would be more sensitive and actually be useful.
Solution:
I bought a cheap DC outlet charge/battery meter from a camping/RV company for 12 bucks. I plug it in the power point on the dash and I get the current DC voltage reading! It is cheaper than installing a voltmeter gauge. Going down the road it is at a steady 13.9 volts.
I've noticed that my charging does not start right away, maybe this is why the batt light isn't allowed to work until the batteries are completely dead, it would come on especially after starting. Maybe if there was a time delay (to keep it off) after starting it would be more sensitive and actually be useful.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 890
Likes: 1
From: Douglas County, GA
Originally Posted by Downsized2X
I've noticed that my charging does not start right away, maybe this is why the batt light isn't allowed to work until the batteries are completely dead, it would come on especially after starting. Maybe if there was a time delay (to keep it off) after starting it would be more sensitive and actually be useful.
The Dodge Cummins have a "heating grid" in their diesels. Those guys complain that their lights are dim and their windows roll up and down slowly until it shuts off.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver, BC Canada
My alternator went all in one shot on one of my hunting trips two years ago. I had 75,000km at the time and the check engine light came on 30 seconds before. Thanks for the great warning device Ford!.
I was towing my Suzuki sidekick that I modified heavily for offroad and kept it running behind me to charge the truck batteries as I switched them every 15 minutes while I drove out of the woods to the nearest town. I did this for 400km and 5 hours later to get to the nearest service station (very remote area for trophy mule deers).
Needless to say the alternator was dead and the batteries were fried. Thus my signature of new found goodies "Optima batteries, better aftermarket alternator and gauges which include a voltmeter".
I have greater trust now with better parts and in particular better warning and monitoring gauges. Sometimes to learn is just to experience it.
I had to respond to this thread because I could never forget this trip as my 2 buddies and I did harvest two trophy mule deers (large 5x5's and scored approx. 165 on the Boone and Crocket).
I was towing my Suzuki sidekick that I modified heavily for offroad and kept it running behind me to charge the truck batteries as I switched them every 15 minutes while I drove out of the woods to the nearest town. I did this for 400km and 5 hours later to get to the nearest service station (very remote area for trophy mule deers).
Needless to say the alternator was dead and the batteries were fried. Thus my signature of new found goodies "Optima batteries, better aftermarket alternator and gauges which include a voltmeter".
I have greater trust now with better parts and in particular better warning and monitoring gauges. Sometimes to learn is just to experience it.
I had to respond to this thread because I could never forget this trip as my 2 buddies and I did harvest two trophy mule deers (large 5x5's and scored approx. 165 on the Boone and Crocket).
Last edited by BC Powerstroke; Jul 17, 2007 at 10:45 PM.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,863
Likes: 4
From: Airdrie Alberta
Originally Posted by Beachbumcook
You got lucky.....
The alternator is NOT covered under the 100,000 diesel motor warrenty.
I checked... that is why I went to a local mechanic near me.
See... the "dealership" is not as bad as some make them out to be on these boards!!!
The alternator is NOT covered under the 100,000 diesel motor warrenty.
I checked... that is why I went to a local mechanic near me.
See... the "dealership" is not as bad as some make them out to be on these boards!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Audubon, PA.
battery drain
I posted elsewhere about my batteries going down. I have a 2004 E-350 SD van 6.0. Ford replaced one battery last year. Duh! I have had this problem ever since they changed it out. If I sit 2-3 days without starting it and running it the batteries go dead.
on the van the batteries are on the frame. A real bear to get to. I can barely see my alternator. I wouldn't know how to replace it if I had one in my hand. I can't see how to release the fan belt.
I am going to a battery only place tomorrow and they will check both my batteries and the charging system for a lot less than Ford. I have an appointment with Ford Tuesday. I hope I can cure the problem before they get it for inspection.
Any thoughts,
Thanks, Bruce
on the van the batteries are on the frame. A real bear to get to. I can barely see my alternator. I wouldn't know how to replace it if I had one in my hand. I can't see how to release the fan belt.
I am going to a battery only place tomorrow and they will check both my batteries and the charging system for a lot less than Ford. I have an appointment with Ford Tuesday. I hope I can cure the problem before they get it for inspection.
Any thoughts,
Thanks, Bruce
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 15,368
Likes: 121
From: Stuttgart, Ar
I know ford did it, but replacing one battery is suicide to both. Those morons should know it. That's most likely your problem. First bad battery basically killed the second one they didn't replace and it didn't last long, so it killed the good battery. Good luck and let us know--may have killed your alternator also, BTW.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Bruce S
I posted elsewhere about my batteries going down. I have a 2004 E-350 SD van 6.0. Ford replaced one battery last year. Duh! I have had this problem ever since they changed it out. If I sit 2-3 days without starting it and running it the batteries go dead.
on the van the batteries are on the frame. A real bear to get to. I can barely see my alternator. I wouldn't know how to replace it if I had one in my hand. I can't see how to release the fan belt.
I am going to a battery only place tomorrow and they will check both my batteries and the charging system for a lot less than Ford. I have an appointment with Ford Tuesday. I hope I can cure the problem before they get it for inspection.
Any thoughts,
Thanks, Bruce
on the van the batteries are on the frame. A real bear to get to. I can barely see my alternator. I wouldn't know how to replace it if I had one in my hand. I can't see how to release the fan belt.
I am going to a battery only place tomorrow and they will check both my batteries and the charging system for a lot less than Ford. I have an appointment with Ford Tuesday. I hope I can cure the problem before they get it for inspection.
Any thoughts,
Thanks, Bruce
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 909
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by npccpartsman
I know ford did it, but replacing one battery is suicide to both. Those morons should know it. That's most likely your problem. First bad battery basically killed the second one they didn't replace and it didn't last long, so it killed the good battery. Good luck and let us know--may have killed your alternator also, BTW.