Battery Issue Need Help
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 102
Likes: 0
From: Corona, CA
Well I took your advice instead of wasting a bunch of time and money I just went to Ford Service and had them do a test and they said the Alternator was bad. I forgot I had an extended warranty (7yr/75000mi) and so it was under warranty and they fixed it free of charge. WOW. What a relief.
Thank you everyone for your responses and helps and I'm glad I listened to someone who had experience and not trying to dabble with it for weeks on end trying to find a short or some drain. The reason why I thought it was something else is because I just put a new stereo in and used special harnesses to get the subwoofer powered and the rear seat entertainment so that was what made me think it wasn't the alternator. Just happened to be a coincidence that it was.
Again, thank you.
Senior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: Hollywood, FL
If it had not been a bad alternator, here is a good DYI video for finding shorts in the electrical system YouTube - Fix Electrical Shorts in Your Own Car
Mountain Pass
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 193
Likes: 1
I've had a simliar problem. A year, and a half ago, the dealer had to replace part of the engine harness. There was nothing wrong with the battery, OR alternator. The problem has since returned. I suspect it might be the harness again(not sure how to check). Battery load tester shows the battery is good. Alternator is pumping ou almost 14A.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 383
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From: MA
mdntblu, When was the last time you cleaned the battery terminals prior to two weeks ago? If it was a long time ago, chances are your alternator is not fucntioning properly. It sound like the same problem I had a couple of years ago. I let the vehicle sit for a week and the battery was stone dead, after jump starting it,it died out. I put one of my boat batteries in temporarily had the local garage test my alternator and it was borderline. I ended up with a new alternator. never had the problem again. Now I clean my battery terminals at least annually.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 102
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From: Corona, CA
They were clean because I had just got a new battery about 6 months before and I use a solution in a can and spray them before and after installing them and it keeps them from corroding.
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