Intermittent Battery Light
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Herndon KY
Intermittent Battery Light
'03 7.3 PSD Excursion, 4x4 Auto, with a banks six gun tuner (bought that way from previous owner), I bought it with an intermittent battery light coming on. One of the Batterys was dead (they were original) so I replaced both. Light still came on, so I checked the plug on the Alternator, there was some corrosion so I cleaned it up and put di-electric grease in there for better contact and waterproofing. Light still comes on and off intermittently. Has any body experienced this? Any Ideas, I also cleaned all terminals, and have tried wiggling wiring harnesses. The Alt tests good, (all parts e.g. wires, voltage reg...) during the test though we could not get the light to come on, and I was there a while. Thanks in advance for the help
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Sounds to me like the alt is starting to go. Keep an eye on it. When mine died, it just went -- no intermittent stuff at all. Interestingly, it died about two months after I replaced the batts.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2003
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Originally Posted by bkcowboss
'I cleaned it up and put di-electric grease in there for better contact and waterproofing.
Your alternator is on its way out. Take a DMM and check the voltage with the truck running. I added a volt gauge because I am on my 3rd alternator in 2 years. 1 died all at once, but the last one was doing the same thing you describe.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Brighton, CO
I agree - mine did the exact same thing, new alternator fixed it right up... I think it was putting out erratic voltage or something, maybe why you had trouble testing it. Drove it for like 6 months with the intermittent battery light.
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Herndon KY
Thanks guys, went back and checked everything, I shouldn't have said di-electric grease, I used, the stuff for electrical connections contact cleaner or whatever. I went back out checked alt out, and rechecked the batt connections, and the passenger side batter had white hard crust around the entire interior of the connection. I had to use a small screw driver and chip it out. When I finished my truck started like normal ( cranked faster, faster gp's) no more light. Hopefully that will be it.
Freshman User
Joined: Mar 2007
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SOunds just like the problem I had before replacing my alternator a month ago. I was lucky enough to have a multi meter on the system one of the times when the light came on . My voltage droped to 11 volts from 14.5 . Light went out and right back up to 14.5 . These things are a piece of cake to change out so if you want to be 100% sure first just ****** it out and take it to autozone and have them check it since you can pay as much as 200 bucks for an alt.
Scott
Scott
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Ardenvoir, Washington
Glad to hear you found the problem.. but if it comes back, check the two small wires coming off the top of the alternator and check to see if they are laying on the alternator housing. Mine was and wore the insulation off of one of them and i was getting a intermittent battery light..
