Complete electrical failure....
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Complete electrical failure....
I have a 2003 F150 with a little over 100,000 miles and as I was driving home today, the battery light came on followed by the air bag light. Shortly after, the dash, radio, everything electrical went out. Luckily, I was in neighborhood and able to stop safelty.
Any ideas on what may have caused a complete failure? Once stopped and the truck turned off, some the electrical functions returned but the car will not start. Would a dead battery cause this to occur?
Thanks for your input.
Any ideas on what may have caused a complete failure? Once stopped and the truck turned off, some the electrical functions returned but the car will not start. Would a dead battery cause this to occur?
Thanks for your input.
Moderator
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 56,992
Likes: 2,741
From: Virginia
You need to get a voltmeter, or try to get it to a autostore where they have a tester.
If you get a meter, the first thing to do is check the battery voltage. If it's 10 volts or less, then it is bad, and needs to be replaced.
If it's around 12 volts, then next thing is try to start it. If it won't start, put the meter back on the battery and try to start it again. If the battery voltage drops very low, then put a charger on the battery, or try to jump start the vehicle.
If you get it started, then put your meter back on the battery. The voltage should be about 14 volts with the engine running. If it's 12v or lower with the engine running, then the alt is not charging.
If the alt is not charging, the first thing to check is the underhood fuse box. The newer trucks usually have a maxi fuse for the alt, and also a smaller fuse for the regulator.
If the fuses are good, then take the alt off and go to autozone and let them put the alt on their tester to see if it's good.
If you get a meter, the first thing to do is check the battery voltage. If it's 10 volts or less, then it is bad, and needs to be replaced.
If it's around 12 volts, then next thing is try to start it. If it won't start, put the meter back on the battery and try to start it again. If the battery voltage drops very low, then put a charger on the battery, or try to jump start the vehicle.
If you get it started, then put your meter back on the battery. The voltage should be about 14 volts with the engine running. If it's 12v or lower with the engine running, then the alt is not charging.
If the alt is not charging, the first thing to check is the underhood fuse box. The newer trucks usually have a maxi fuse for the alt, and also a smaller fuse for the regulator.
If the fuses are good, then take the alt off and go to autozone and let them put the alt on their tester to see if it's good.
