This is topic Help!!! Weird electrical issues in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by GTE (Member # 5839) on :
 
I am having some weird problems with my 04 Cobra.

It starts fine, drives fine, but if I am cruising around and give it a little gas, the dash lights dim & as soon as I let off it, they get much brighter & the ABS & battery light come on for a second or so & then its back to normal. If I get on it for a little longer, all the gauges "zero" out & won't work for a few seconds & then do a full sweep (like when you disconnect the battery) and then start working again.

It does it regardless of the electrical load on the car. If I have nothing on or if I have the headlights on, fan on high, stereo on, rear defroster on, bottle warmer on etc.
 

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Posted by 92stangLX (Member # 3252) on :
 
Electrical problems suck I assume that these issues are related to your starting issue in your previous thread?

1st thing I would do is check the connections at your battery and make sure they are tight. Then I would check the ground from the battery to the block.

If everything looks good there I would either take it in and have the charging system tested or bust out the multimeter.

The car should still be under warrenty right? Why not take it in to Ford and have them look at it?
 

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Posted by GTE (Member # 5839) on :
 
Nope, different cars. The dash lights issue is on the 04 Cobra. The car not starting issue is with my 92 GT.

Technically the car has a warranty, realistically, I kissed bye bye a long time ago. lol

I have done some research and it is probably the alternator. again.
 

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Posted by 92stangLX (Member # 3252) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by GTE:
Nope, different cars. The dash lights issue is on the 04 Cobra. The car not starting issue is with my 92 GT.

Technically the car has a warranty, realistically, I kissed bye bye a long time ago. lol

I have done some research and it is probably the alternator. again.

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Again Do the alternators on these things go out a lot?
 

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Posted by two-gun kid (Member # 5891) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by 92stangLX:

quote:

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Originally posted by GTE:
Nope, different cars. The dash lights issue is on the 04 Cobra. The car not starting issue is with my 92 GT.

Technically the car has a warranty, realistically, I kissed bye bye a long time ago. lol

I have done some research and it is probably the alternator. again.

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Again Do the alternators on these things go out a lot?

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ya maybe your just having some bad luck with the alt or maybe the connection is loose.
 

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Posted by GTE (Member # 5839) on :
 
Yeah, the rumor mill is that the pulley is too small so the get overspun & it burns them out.

The first one lasted 600 miles. this one lasted about 10K miles
 

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Posted by GTE (Member # 5839) on :
 
Ok, new findings.

No matter how hard I get on it, if I stay UNDER 3K rpm then its normal. If I go over 3K rpm then the dashlights brighten & when I left off the ABS & battery light turn on.

Also, the little rubber cap that covers the hot wire coming off the alternator was all hard & part of it was missing like it had gotten very hot & burned away.

Maybe once it hits 3K it makes too much power & is overloading the car? Is there some sort of voltage regulator?
 

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Posted by 94gt (Member # 3060) on :
 
My buddy had what sounds pretty similiar in his gt, turns out he blew a fuse that powers the dash. Double check those 1st, before replacing another alt.
 

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Posted by GTE (Member # 5839) on :
 
Ok, after thinking of what it could be, I thought it might be the voltage regulator so I bought a new alt from PA Performance.

Since then, no weird dash light issues. Just posting my solution up for anyone that has that issue and searches for an answer
 

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Posted by 94gt (Member # 3060) on :
 
Cool, glad to hear that its working for you!
 

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