This is topic Batterey or Alternator problem? in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by Jesse (Member # 312) on :
 
Today I decided to take the '95 Lightning to work. On the way home tonight the battery wasn't acting right. I had the headlights on, radio on (no subs or amps or anything), and when I put the windows down the lights would dim and the radio would die for a minute. I turned the radio off and watched the battery gauge when I stopped at lights. It would go up and down and the lights would get brighter and then softer. When I got home, I put the truck in reverse and put the window down (can't see shit in the mirror through the tint) and the truck died. It had nothing left and I had to jump it to get it out of the middle of the street.

Apparently the truck has underdrive pullies, but I don't think this is the problem because I'm not running a big stereo. What is your guess? I don't have an meter to test the alternator, but I'll try to take it to Kragen tomorrow afternoon to get it tested.

Jesse
 
Posted by Black94 5.0 (Member # 655) on :
 
Sounds like the alternator, but it could be the battery as well...When the battery cant hold a charge it often over works the alternator, cuasing it to stop functioning....

Here's an old trick....Touch the back of the alternator where the steel bearing cap is, with a steel screwdriver...The bearing cap on the back of the alternator should be magnatized if its producing enough current to charge the battery...If the bearing cap on the back of the alternator is not magnitized you know that the charging system has a problem....
 
Posted by 91sleeper (Member # 779) on :
 
Replace the alternator and the battery at the same time.

If the battery was going out it was causing the alternator to over work itself and if the alternator was going out the battery wouldn't have been getting full charge and might have dead cells.
 
Posted by Red97SVT (Member # 2811) on :
 
Start the truck, With the engine runniong, remove the + battery cable.

If it dies, the alt is bad.

If it keeps running, the battery is bad.

Process of elimination.
 
Posted by Jesse (Member # 312) on :
 
I think I fixed it! I took both the batery and alternator down to Kragen this morning and it was the alternator. I replaced it and it seems to be fixed. I guess we'll know for sure in the next few days. I'm now keeping a set of jumper-cables under the passanger seat. [Wink]

Jesse
 




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