Strange new electrical problem

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Sep 20, 2008 | 05:53 PM

ferret2

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 71

Likes: 3

From: House Springs, MO

Strange new electrical problem

This morning I went out to move the X and she barely cranked fast enough to fire. I let it fast idle for a few minutes to charge the batteries. When I shut it down and started to step out I got the ding-ding like I left the lights on - only no lights on. I checked for a current draw with it off and when I initially touch the probes of the meter I get a spike of 1.5A, rapidy dropping off to 0.006A so nothing I would call a short or draw. I'm sure the clock takes that amount of current. Now I have been having what appears to be alternator problems in the preceeding weeks - I get a flicker of the idiot light when the rpms get above 2000. Someone said it sounds like a diode.

Any ideas?
Thanks
Craig

Sep 20, 2008 | 06:35 PM

ReAX

Post Fiend

Joined: May 2006

Posts: 10,007

Likes: 4

From: Central Florida

The alt problem sounds like the rectifier diodes are failing. You either need to replace the rectifier or the alt. I've seen rectifiers available on line, but you will need to figure out what alt you have, I think it's a 3g, but I am not sure.

Put the truck on a charger, let your batt or batts charge up fully and try again.

Sep 20, 2008 | 07:25 PM

Posting Guru

Joined: Sep 2001

Posts: 1,539

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I priced the rectifiers instead of a whoel alternator at a couple popular auto oparts stores and the price difference was only a few dollars between a whole new alternator, and just the electronic part. Do yourself a favor and dont buy a cheapy parts store rebuild unless you feel like replacing them every couple months for teh rest fo the life of the truck lol.

Sep 20, 2008 | 10:30 PM

ferret2

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Mar 2005

Posts: 71

Likes: 3

From: House Springs, MO

I'll try the charger but when I checked the voltage I was getting 12.3V on both - a little low but considering how low they were and I only ran the truck a few minutes at high idle i didn't think they were the cause of the dinger. I checked the batteries seperately with the cable off.

Thanks