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Factory voltmeter question

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Old Oct 22, 2009 | 01:28 PM
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Factory voltmeter question

Let me start off by saying I know The Beast isn't a FORD truck. However it is a FORD & you guys seem pretty knowledgeable so I'll try. Was just reading the one about the squealing & it made me wonder. Every time I hit a puddle when it's raining, my volt gauge drops way down . The belt is new ( less than 6 mos. old ), replaced due to cracks. Has always done this. Bought it with about 35,xxx & is now over 95,xxx. does not seem to have any effect on starting or anything & comes up after a minute or two. Just curious if anybody had any ideas. Have never put a real gauge on it, just going from the factory gauge. Makes me nervous when it does that. Has a newer battery ( less than a year old ). The Beast is an '01 ex-cop car with what I think they call a 4.6 engine, not too good with these new sillyliter things. If it helps, it's the same engine as was in my '94 ( same car, not the cop version ). Used to be called LTDs, which used to be called Galaxies.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2009 | 01:47 PM
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my wifes mini van does this too. water splashes the belt and all the pulleys except the engine stops turning for a few rotations. when this happens to it there is almost no powersteering. could be the same for your car.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2009 | 01:50 PM
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Haven't noticed anything except the alt. gauge. Doesn't seem to bother anything else. Like I say, not really a problem, just something for me to wonder about.
 
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Old Oct 22, 2009 | 10:29 PM
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This might be a bit of a long shot...but the first thing that comes to mind would be a weak belt tensioner pulley. And I know there are differences between the 2-valve and 4-valve engines, but I replaced one on my folks' Mark VIII about four years ago, and IIRC, it took me about 15 minutes.

You're lucky, 1OFM...I almost said 2V and 4V engines. These days they're talking about the number of valves per cylinder, but doesn't seem like that long ago they meant the number of venturis in the carburetor!

Pat
 
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Old Oct 23, 2009 | 03:20 AM
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Originally Posted by 1OldFordMan
Let me start off by saying I know The Beast isn't a FORD truck. However it is a FORD & you guys seem pretty knowledgeable so I'll try. Was just reading the one about the squealing & it made me wonder. Every time I hit a puddle when it's raining, my volt gauge drops way down . The belt is new ( less than 6 mos. old ), replaced due to cracks. Has always done this. Bought it with about 35,xxx & is now over 95,xxx. does not seem to have any effect on starting or anything & comes up after a minute or two. Just curious if anybody had any ideas. Have never put a real gauge on it, just going from the factory gauge. Makes me nervous when it does that. Has a newer battery ( less than a year old ). The Beast is an '01 ex-cop car with what I think they call a 4.6 engine, not too good with these new sillyliter things. If it helps, it's the same engine as was in my '94 ( same car, not the cop version ). Used to be called LTDs, which used to be called Galaxies.
A real good website for Ford police cars-ie: P71s-is Crown Victoria, Grand Marquis, Marauder, and Towncar Give it a look. I too would think that the tensioner would be the probable reason for the slipping belt.
 
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Old Oct 23, 2009 | 09:03 AM
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Thanks everybody for the replies. Just goes to show, !! You guys are willing to answer my stupid question & it's not even about a FORD truck. Will check out that web site suggested. Everything still works & doesn't seem to cause any problems, just makes me nervous when I see the gauge head south. Will check the price on a new tensioner.
 
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Old Oct 23, 2009 | 09:10 AM
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[quote=PatsPOS;8064081]This might be a bit of a long shot...but the first thing that comes to mind would be a weak belt tensioner pulley. And I know there are differences between the 2-valve and 4-valve engines, but I replaced one on my folks' Mark VIII about four years ago, and IIRC, it took me about 15 minutes.

You're lucky, 1OFM...I almost said 2V and 4V engines. These days they're talking about the number of valves per cylinder, but doesn't seem like that long ago they meant the number of venturis in the carburetor!

Pat[/quote ]

Hey Pat, I'm Pat too. Thanks for the idea. Know what you mean about the 2V vs. 4V engines. Most people look at me weird when I talk about replacing points & condenser years ago as part of a tune up. They act like I'm talking a foreign language. What can you say? Younger generation these days .
 
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Old Oct 23, 2009 | 11:53 PM
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Pat...I'm 39...kind of a weird age to be in the automotive world. I know how to adjust points, but I'm also kinda knowledgeable about EFI. I don't like the new stuff, but I don't really like the old stuff, either. Give me an engine built in the '70s and I'm right at home.

I helped my dad rebuild the engine in an 8N tractor 10 or so years ago...adjusting the valves was and is a chore! Glad they invented the OHV V-8!

Pat
 
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