Battery light
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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Battery light
This weekend my battery light on the dash came on while I was driving. It soon went off and didn't come back on for awhile, it was off and on all weekend. any ideas.? I'm assuming it is maybe the alternator but how do i know. ? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
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Joined: Sep 2008
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I have had the same problem with other vehicles. It could be corrosion on the battery terminals. The battery could have a bad cell in it. The belt could also be slipping. I recently had an alternater go out and it did the same thing yours did. The light came on and then went off. A few days and probably 250 miles later the alternator stopped charging completely and stranded me. I had no corrosion and I had the battery tested and it was fine. The belt was brand new. I even had the alternater tested at two parts stores and it read that it was good, but it was charging at the time. If your belt and battery is good and not corroded I would suspect the alternator.
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thanks for the advice. Also I called Napa and they said there is a 130amp or 200amp alternator. I am assuming that since I have the so called heavy duty tow package that I would have the 200amp. Am I assuming right? Thanks.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2005
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From: NYC
I beleve the HD tow package came with the 130amp alternator. Regular optioned cars/trucks got the 90A version.
The 200amp is the super heavy duty version, I doubt you will need that unless you are running like 3 batteries or something like that. Just my .2 cents
The 200amp is the super heavy duty version, I doubt you will need that unless you are running like 3 batteries or something like that. Just my .2 cents
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Joined: Dec 2007
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Brother-in-law's F150 did the same, light came on, then off. Alternator tested fine at parts store. Turns out that when the RPMs went up, the ALT shut down. Replaced the ALT, and everything is fine.
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thanks for all the help. this site is great. did a search yesterday on changing out the alternator. went home last night and changed it and put a new serpentine belt on. I am not a mechanic by any means but I do have tools and some know how. Changed alternator and belt in just under an hour. Not a bad job to do at all. Wife is on the road again. Thanks again. Brian
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Eastern PA
You can have Advanced Auto Parts stores check your alternator for free. They can also test your battery for free. I'm a big fan of free. Autozone i believe will do it as well. Call around and see what folks say.
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