Trouble with charging system....
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New User
Joined: Oct 2009
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Trouble with charging system....
I have a '97-XLT, 2WD with a 4.6L in it. Just purchased about 2 months ago. My neighbor called and told me one day at work, that he saw the dome light on inside the truck, and that the brake light above the rear glass was on as well. He said about 5 minutes later, the lights were off. I came home assuming the battery was dead, truck started right up. I assumed the door wasn't shutting well, and the door lights were staying on, so I sprayed the hinges down with WD-40.
I didn't start the truck for 4 days, went out, battery was dead, would not charge at all, so I assumed it was an old bad battery. Replaced with a new battery that day, everything seemed good. Go out to start it 2 days later, the new battery is dead. So, last night, I jumped it off, then removed the fuse that goes to the dome light, door lights, and power windows. I try to start it today 24 hours later, and it fired right up.
I thinking a couple of things but I wasn't sure. Is there possibly a bad relay causing the truck to suck the battery try? Or, is the altenator going out, and it's time to replace with a new one? I just thought it was weird that the dome/door lights came on like this in the middle of the day, when no one had been in the truck for 2 days the first time this happened. I appreciate any help you can give, thanks.
I didn't start the truck for 4 days, went out, battery was dead, would not charge at all, so I assumed it was an old bad battery. Replaced with a new battery that day, everything seemed good. Go out to start it 2 days later, the new battery is dead. So, last night, I jumped it off, then removed the fuse that goes to the dome light, door lights, and power windows. I try to start it today 24 hours later, and it fired right up.
I thinking a couple of things but I wasn't sure. Is there possibly a bad relay causing the truck to suck the battery try? Or, is the altenator going out, and it's time to replace with a new one? I just thought it was weird that the dome/door lights came on like this in the middle of the day, when no one had been in the truck for 2 days the first time this happened. I appreciate any help you can give, thanks.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,932
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i dont think its the alternator. it appears to be related to the fuse circuit you pulled. figuring out what is causing that can be difficult. i would leave the fuse out and see if anything else causes the discharge. could be a door switch, or could be a grounded or corroded light socket, etc... make sure its only that circuilt and not more wide spread.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Hernando Ms
Your Main light switch/Dimmer is probably intermittent.When the rehostat(Dimmer) is turned all the way up,and past that to the 'Click" it turns on the dome lights,and bed light.I suspect THAT switch is either internally damaged,or you have inadvertantly left it in the "interior light" position.
My suggestion is"work it" up and down a few times,and feel for the "click" at the uppermost position.If it sounds normal,and the feel of the click doesent change noticeably,Id say thats not the problem.If it feels spongy going into the detent position,then the switch/rehostat is likely toast.
I think your Alternator is probably fine.
My suggestion is"work it" up and down a few times,and feel for the "click" at the uppermost position.If it sounds normal,and the feel of the click doesent change noticeably,Id say thats not the problem.If it feels spongy going into the detent position,then the switch/rehostat is likely toast.
I think your Alternator is probably fine.
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,432
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You can use WD-40 as a cleaner, but it has no lasting lubrication value. Use white lithium grease instead. All WD-40 does is give you some quick lubrication, but later on it just attracts dirt. A heavier grease will do a better job and it stays where you put it.
