battery light
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Freshman User
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battery light
2001-f-250, auto, 210,000 miles. drove 6 hours from Grainger county Tn. to Maxwell AFB for my nephew`s graduation from OTS. No problems untill I turned it off at the gaurd gate, when I fired it up the battery light came on flikered on and off, Long story short the battery light is on. checked all battery conection and alternator wires. anything else I could check in the daylight? Thanks in advance for any and all help.
Ross
Ross
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: VA
I had the same issue and did everything I could think of before I replaced the alternator. The alternator was it! I sprung for a brand new unit from auto zone since I heard their remans dont last long...
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 14,541
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From: Dallas-Ft. Worth
Mine runs about 14.2-14.4V after GPs are off. Each will be slightly different based on the alt's voltage regulator. The battery light comes on around 12V or so. If yours is coming on, that's about how low your batt V is. Get the alt checked before it kills your batts. Which reminds me, how old ARE your batts? My '02 needed both replaced last year, which was right at 5 years from date of manufacture. Right after I replaced the batts, the alt needed replaced. I think the weak batts took out the alt, so be prepared for that.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 3,292
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From: Ardenvoir, Washington
My flickering battery light was caused by one of the two small wire that come out of the top of the alternator that was shorting out on the aluminum housing..just down from the connector... the wires are a bit too short from the factory..
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no tools with me(I know) Maybe I can find an auto zone close by and let them check the alternator. Thanks for all the quick replies, its midnight here, time for some sleep
Ross
Ross
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Same thing happened to me about a month ago. Battery light came on so I checked voltage at batteries. I was getting a reading of 12v at the batteries. I replaced the Alternator about a year ago, got it at Autozone with a lifetime warranty. Anyway drove truck to Autozone and pulled Alt in parking lot. Darn thing tested bad. Autozone replaced no charge. Picked up two new batteries while I was there. Battery voltage runs around 14.1v to 14.3V. Haven't had any problems since.
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Postmaster
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From: VA
Autozone checked mine still installed and said it was fine. A week later after I replaced the 2 wire connector, taped all wires to and from alternator, and a few choice words when the light came on I took it off and brought it to AZ. They couldnt test it in their tester on site because of the mounting bracket or something. I took the plunge and bought a new one and it hasnt been back on yet.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 152
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From: Darrington, WA
Yep, I'm betting on the alternator. My light came on put a new remanufactured from NAPA in it. The NEXT day the light came on again. After getting it tested twice (first time NAPA said it was good) the second time I replaced it again and the light stayed out. So you can get a bad one since they are remanufactured a lot of times. Very easy to change you need a 1/2" breaker bar to take the belt off, 7/16" (I think) socket and ratchet or breaker bar and a 10mm wrench for the wire connector nuts. Be sure to disconnect the ground wires from both batteries. Good luck
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well, I put a new alt. on and the light went out for about 30 mins. popped back on for a little bit now it`s off, drove from montgomery Al. to clewiston Fl.. I`d say I`ve got a loose wire, just need it to stay off until I can get back to Tn.
Ross
Ross
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From: VA
Did you buy a new or reman? I know you said "new" in your last post but it could just be new to you!
Remans have definitely been known to crap out or not work right off the bat, which is why I sprung for the 30 dollar more new unit. Check all the wires going to and from the alternator. I even taped up the wiring harness thats ontop of the VC just to make sure nothing was chaffing there. I taped up absolutely everything. Chaffed wire, loose wire, bad dash light, bad harness and bad alternator are pretty much what can go wrong. I would definitely bank on either a chaffed wire or the alternator, still!
Remans have definitely been known to crap out or not work right off the bat, which is why I sprung for the 30 dollar more new unit. Check all the wires going to and from the alternator. I even taped up the wiring harness thats ontop of the VC just to make sure nothing was chaffing there. I taped up absolutely everything. Chaffed wire, loose wire, bad dash light, bad harness and bad alternator are pretty much what can go wrong. I would definitely bank on either a chaffed wire or the alternator, still!
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Darrington, WA
Like I said in my earlier post I changed the alt and the next day the light came on again. Had it tested and they said it was good. Drove for about a week with the intermittent light so I had it tested again and they said it might be bad. So I paid more money out for a "New" Alt and haven't had any problems since, been about 2 months now. I was also told if your alt quits you will have about 100 miles before your batteries are drained since the injectors still require power to fire. I would have it tested again if possible to be sure.
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