Problem- Alternator,battery or something else?
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From: sourthern NJ
Problem- Alternator,battery or something else?
I have a '93 Ranger 3.0/ manual that my son drives. About a week and a half ago while sitting at a light the truck stalled out. He had driven about 5-8 miles. He couldn't get the truck started (battery was dead). While waiting for me to get there, he tried strating it again and it started, ran rough for a few seconds then died. When I got there the battery did not have enough power to turn the engine over. Thinking the truck had been running off the battery until drained, I had it towed to a local mechanic. He charged the battery over night and the truck started no problem. He then checked the charging system and told me it was charging at the top of the range - perhaps even higher. So I picked up the truck and my son drove it without any problems for more than a week. Yesterday, he had been out making some money snow blowing driveways - so he would drive a short distance then stop for an hour or so. On his way home, the truck died again. We jumped it and it would start easily, but only run for about 10 seconds - then the battery gauge would dropout and the truck would die. I'm assuming that since the garage was able to charge the battery - that is not problem. Any ideas?
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From: SW Va
Maybe consider running this puppy by your favorite autoparts store for a no cost, in vehicle electrical system checkup, via their portable electrical system tester.
Properly used it can load check the battery, alternator & battery cables & will likely find the root cause & you may now have more than one problem.
With the Tech saying that the alternator is outputting at the top end or more, it sounds like it's voltage regulator may have a problem & if it does, it'll over charge the battery & fry the plates.
As pgw85706 said, if the battery is old you could have internal battery problems, like shorted or leaking cells.
Deep cycling/discharging & recharging a starting battery is a sure way to kill it too, as it'll shed plate material.
The vehicles other electrical parts having to operate at higher & lower voltage, is putting undo strain on them also.
So you really need a good in depth electrical system checkup without delay, or it's likely to be more expensive to put right in the long run if ignored.
More thoughts for consideration.
Let us know how it goes.
Properly used it can load check the battery, alternator & battery cables & will likely find the root cause & you may now have more than one problem.
With the Tech saying that the alternator is outputting at the top end or more, it sounds like it's voltage regulator may have a problem & if it does, it'll over charge the battery & fry the plates.
As pgw85706 said, if the battery is old you could have internal battery problems, like shorted or leaking cells.
Deep cycling/discharging & recharging a starting battery is a sure way to kill it too, as it'll shed plate material.
The vehicles other electrical parts having to operate at higher & lower voltage, is putting undo strain on them also.
So you really need a good in depth electrical system checkup without delay, or it's likely to be more expensive to put right in the long run if ignored.
More thoughts for consideration.
Let us know how it goes.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: sourthern NJ
Thanks for the ideas. To tell the truth, I'm not sure how old the battery is. I've had the truck over three years and it's still the same battery. I guess it couldn't hurt to replace that anyhow. Then I'll at least be able to get it to one of those autopart store to run the test.
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From: sourthern NJ
I went back over to the truck to check the age of the battery. I tried starting it and got the typical click click click. I decide to jumping it again and it turned over easily, but now will not start. It doesn't sound as though it's getting either a spark or fuel - just the starter cranking it. i know it's cold out, but yesterday afternoon in soutern NJ was frigit (snow was melting under the sun) so I doubt it's a frozen fuel line.
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If it is an Electronic Fuel Injected engine or w/e, you may have something simple as stated above, however since it's cold out, you are at an increased chance of the EFI computer tweaking' out and your fuel injectors may be damaged. Also, on newer vehicles, if you jump the truck wrong, like putting all 4 ends on all 4 terminals instead of finding a ground, you can actually experience a spike in your electronic system, and it can cause damage to electrical components, such as the main computer, or simple things like the radio. I would check as stated above, go to Napa or Schucks or somewhere that you can get a free electrical, and they can tell you if any of these could be more or less probable.
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