Electrical prob

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Jan 25, 2008 | 09:38 PM

magusjinx

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From: SW Washington coast

Electrical prob

A new problem raised its head today ... I drove to friends house 2 miles away ... an hour later the batteries were dead when I tried to restart to come home ... Charged them up for an hour ... Got home and they were dead again upon trying to restart ... Batts and alt are about 2 years old ...

Jan 25, 2008 | 10:06 PM

Franklin2

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From: Virginia

Get the engine running, and check the voltage on the batteries. It should be around 14 volts. If it's 12 or less, your charging system is not working.

Jan 26, 2008 | 06:17 AM

PLC7.3

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From: Manitoba

This is on your 86 F250.......did you have any dash light for charging problem. I would think possibly the voltage regulator..... should be getting about 14.5V of a charge.

Jan 26, 2008 | 08:34 PM

magusjinx

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From: SW Washington coast

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLC7.3

This is on your 86 F250.......did you have any dash light for charging problem. I would think possibly the voltage regulator..... should be getting about 14.5V of a charge.

Everything on the dash showed good ... But then I might not have paid as much attention as I should have ... Brain cells are getting olde ...

Jan 26, 2008 | 08:45 PM

Dave Sponaugle

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From: Nutter Fort, WV

The 86 ammeter is just to balance the gauges in the dash.
Mine has never moved since the day it was new.

Inspect the passenger side battery terminal and the wires going in and out of the terminal.

If the insulation is brittle, looks discolored like it was hot or you see corrosion in the wire conductor, you need a new positive cable.

All the electricity for the truck goes through that clamp, start, charge and cab power.

Feb 9, 2008 | 07:59 PM

Slopetruck

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Hi, my batteries have been getting drained as well and am getting about 12.6 at the battery with the truck running. Is that pointing towards a alternator problem or something else?

Feb 10, 2008 | 01:02 AM

Dave Sponaugle

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From: Nutter Fort, WV

See if you can get the meter leads on the alternator output stud.
Check the voltage before you start the engine, then again after it is running.

Corrosion in the passenger side battery terminal can keep the charge from reaching the battery and the battery voltage from the starter.

Another option is have the charging system checked at a local part house.