Ranger Died ?!?!?!

DaRayvn · #1 04-17-2011, 08:02 AM

I gotta 2001 Ford Ranger w/4.0 engine, and yesterday while i was driving i came up to a stop light and it started idling really low, then come back up, then really low, and come back up, over and over. When the light turned green i started driving and about 5 seconds later, the truck just died and wouldnt restart. You tun the key and all you here is the starter clicking, like the sound it makes when your battery is dead. I just put in a brand new battery about 2 months ago so i figured maybe my alternator died but i put a voltage meter on the battery and it reads 12 volts, so that would make me think the alternator is just fine. There are no warning or check engine lights showing up on the dash. It was running completely fine and just died. Any ideas of what caused this?? or what i should check first for the problem?? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

brinker88 · #2 04-17-2011, 08:05 AM

Alternator

pugman · #3 04-17-2011, 08:07 AM

12.6 V is what at 12V battery is at when fully charged. What is your battery charge at?

01_ranger_4x4 · #4 04-17-2011, 08:09 AM

Just because your voltmeter read 12 volts doesn't mean anything because it can't load the system. Take the truck in to autozone and have them load test the charging system, it def sounds like a charging issue to me.

[posted from my space aged wireless mobile communtication device using tapatalk]

FireRanger · #5 04-17-2011, 08:27 AM

With the engine running, the voltage should be 13.3-14.0 volts. If you're reading less than that, then the alternator is dead. Which is why your battery died while you were driving and couldn't restart it.

DaRayvn · #6 04-17-2011, 09:13 AM

you cant start the truck....it will not turn over...if i put a voltage meter on the battery right now it reads exactly 12.0 volts....shouldnt the truck start with that much of a charge?? or at least attempt turning over?? it wont do either...the starter just clicks when u turn the key...

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could i try hooking up jumper cables to it and see if it starts off another car??

brinker88 · #7 04-17-2011, 09:16 AM

^Yes, do that...jump it. see if it will start. It SHOULD start.

FireRanger · #8 04-17-2011, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaRayvn

you cant start the truck....it will not turn over...if i put a voltage meter on the battery right now it reads exactly 12.0 volts....shouldnt the truck start with that much of a charge?? or at least attempt turning over?? it wont do either...the starter just clicks when u turn the key...

No. It shouldn't. Exactly 12 volts is nearly dead and it will never start. And once you put the load of a starter on it, the meter will drop down to 10-11 volts. Your alternator is dead. Sure you can jump start it, and will start up. And then it will die again a little while later when the battery is dead again.

DaRayvn · #9 04-17-2011, 09:54 AM

just so long as i know its the alternator, then im happy...i can change that myself...i'll try jumping it and see what happens.....thanks for the help everyone....

pugman · #10 04-17-2011, 10:33 AM

I am curious..... how did you get back home? Did you get towed?
Reason I ask --> i've seen strange methods of repair / trouble shooting only to find out that the engine couldn't crank over because of major issues ( seized engine ).