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Old 07-08-2010, 09:35 AM
05RangerEdge 05RangerEdge is offline
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Default Battery Light?

Last Friday I noticed that when I really got on my truck and hit about 4000rpm the battery light on the dash would come on then go off the second i let up. It did this for a few days then it got a little worse 3500,3000, and so on. Now it is on constant. My battery is less than 6 mo old and I have it checked so it cant be that. Alternator seems to be fine as well I have no loss of power. Any ideas....?
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Old 07-08-2010, 09:45 AM
05RangerEdge 05RangerEdge is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

First time i searched didn't come up with anything then I found this thread after posting:

Battery Light Beeping

Sounds close to what my problem is minus the beeping. I guess i better budget an alternator?
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Old 07-08-2010, 09:59 AM
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Default Re: Battery Light?

My battery light never came on when my alternator died.

I had to replace alternator and battery at the same time. They decided to commit dual suicide.
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Old 07-08-2010, 10:11 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

You're alternator is no doubt toast. That light is wired in such a way that if the key is on but the alternator is not generating power, it will illuminate.
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Old 07-08-2010, 10:19 AM
OH MY JOSH OH MY JOSH is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Alternator.
crank the engine and use a volt meter and see if you have atleast 12.5v of AC voltage.
Anything lower your alternator is toast.
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Old 07-08-2010, 10:21 AM
05RangerEdge 05RangerEdge is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Quote:
Originally Posted by STL View Post
My battery light never came on when my alternator died.

I had to replace alternator and battery at the same time. They decided to commit dual suicide.
That sucks

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireRanger View Post
You're alternator is no doubt toast. That light is wired in such a way that if the key is on but the alternator is not generating power, it will illuminate.
And this really sucks.

Thanks for the diagnosis.
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Old 07-08-2010, 11:00 AM
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Dont know if it is true or not. I always just check with a volt meter.

If you remove the battery cables and the truck dies the alternator is going out? Never tried it before.
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Old 07-08-2010, 11:08 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

You should never do that. Disconnecting the battery leaving the alternator to carry the load has a tendency to blow shit up. The battery tends to act like a nice buffer.
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Old 07-08-2010, 11:14 AM
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Quote:
Originally Posted by FireRanger View Post
You should never do that. Disconnecting the battery leaving the alternator to carry the load has a tendency to blow shit up. The battery tends to act like a nice buffer.
Okay never tried it before. Just one of those things people tell ya, but you just continue to do it the way you know how to do it.
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Old 07-09-2010, 05:12 AM
05RangerEdge 05RangerEdge is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

So had my mechanic throw the volt meter on it and everything checks out OK. The light is no longer on constantly and only comes on at high RPM's again. I don't want to put a new alternator in if i don't need one. Could it be just some sort of computer hiccup?
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Old 07-09-2010, 05:58 AM
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Nope, the computer has nothing to do with the light. As I said earlier, the circuit is designed such that the LED will illuminate when the key is on and the alternator is not generating power. It isn't a computer thing, its one wire from the fuse panel to the light to the field current input on the alternator.

If it is coming on at high RPM, it means your alternator is shitting out at high RPM.
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  #12  
Old 07-09-2010, 06:08 AM
05RangerEdge 05RangerEdge is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

OK i guess I'm just trying to avoid the inevitable lol. Thanks again for the help.
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Old 07-09-2010, 06:17 AM
FireRanger FireRanger is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Keep an eye on it. If it's crapping out at high RPM, it will eventually start crapping out at normal RPM. I suppose it could also be the belt slipping on the pulley at high RPM as well. But I've never seen that happen without a combination of high electrical load and a soaking wet belt due to deep snow.
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  #14  
Old 07-09-2010, 06:21 AM
05RangerEdge 05RangerEdge is offline
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Default Re: Battery Light?

Well now that you mention that we have had bad bad rain here. Flooding streets and what not. Alot of plowing through big puddles so maybe i damaged the belt, I looked at it briefly and didnt see anything maybe i should just try replacing that first? or am i off base here?
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  #15  
Old 07-09-2010, 06:40 AM
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Default Re: Battery Light?

The belt's aren't cheap either, but cheaper than an alternator. I doubt you wrecked it from going through puddles. More likely just the alternator.
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