Alternator Problems
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2007
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Alternator Problems
Hey guys thought I'd come on here and see what u guys think, maybe bounce around a few ideas.. I have a 1985 Ford Bronco 351w. I had a fairly new alternator in the truck when I got it, but come to find out it was bad, I replaced the alternator and still it will not charge the battery. I took it to autozone to test it and it said it was not charging the battery without any load on it, but as soon as u put a load on it, it puts out 176AMPs on a 61 amp alternator... how is this possible? And any solutions to fix it? The battery is constantly dying.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
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From: Bend,OR
first find a napa, autozone is a crap shoot at best.
a 61amp alt doesnt sound right either for that truck. i think that year alt would be internaly regulated so it sounds like its over charging which would kill your battery also. I would get your battery tested, replace both the positive and ground cables with good quality size 2 bat cable and double check that the alt is being hooked up properly. I would also upgrade at this time to a larger alt like a 95amp or more and do the 3g upgrade. do a search online , its a simple upgrade and is worth it in every way.
a 61amp alt doesnt sound right either for that truck. i think that year alt would be internaly regulated so it sounds like its over charging which would kill your battery also. I would get your battery tested, replace both the positive and ground cables with good quality size 2 bat cable and double check that the alt is being hooked up properly. I would also upgrade at this time to a larger alt like a 95amp or more and do the 3g upgrade. do a search online , its a simple upgrade and is worth it in every way.
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Well the alternator is susposed to be right(according to autozone)... its a carburated 351 and I know its externely regulated.. always has been the regulator looks as old as the truck. I have replaced the grounds from the battery to frame and frame to block and cleaned very good. The postive looks to have been replaced recently as well. The ground does get extremely hot, just like the alternator does.. when I pulled it yesterday the damn thing was almost to hot to touch. NAPA is awesome but very expensive. I've been thinkin all day and u think if I replace the regulator it would help? The regulator controls voltage to alternator right?
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Senior User
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I changed the regulator and bam! Charging battery now.. but I believe I still have a ground problem, trucks light will flicker and so will my guage, but when I drive the guage stabalizes out a bit.
