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  #1  
Old 02-13-2013, 02:35 PM
bagross bagross is offline
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Default Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Yesterday, while driving a few hours on the highway, the battery light lit up. When got off highway, battery light went out but engine seemed newly shaky at the stop light. Truck drove fine, no CEL, no loss of power.

Today I put the voltmeter on battery while engine running, registered 14.3 or so, revved the engine by hand at throttle body, volts dropped to about 12. Battery light is currently lighting up anytime engine revs above 3000 rpm.

Checked the forums and found some info on battery light - seems likely that the alternator is going, though it's charging at low rpm's, it may be crapping out at higher rpm's and getting worse. Does this sound correct?

Still, I'm confused as to the new engine shake. What would be causing that, and is it related to the alternator? I checked and motor mounts seem fine. Could the shake be caused by low volts causing a misfire? No CEL, and engine sounds ok, at least to my amateur ear.

Any insight would be greatly appreciated.. Thanks.
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  #2  
Old 02-13-2013, 02:38 PM
gknight18 gknight18 is offline
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Default Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

alternator is my bet i switch to a 200 amp one
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1998 Ranger Xlt: 4.0L | Auto | 4x4 | 201,000 miles
3" Body Lift | 33x12.50R15 Goodyear Duratracs | 31 Spline 8.8 Limited Slip | 4.10's | Explorer leaf springs | Crown Suspension 2 inch lift shackle | Power Everything | Explorer Sport Trac, Center Console, Bucket Seats, Hvac, Speed Cluster and vinyl floor / Alpine CDE-9870 / RCI Front Skid / C4x4 Front Bumper / Recon 10,500 lbs Waterproof Winch / 200 Amp Alt | Headache Rack | TG Rock Sliders.
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  #3  
Old 02-13-2013, 02:43 PM
dzrt_ranger dzrt_ranger is offline
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Sounds like what happened to me a couple weeks bacm. Most likely your alternator is going bad. Do your gauges dim when you accelerate?
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  #4  
Old 02-13-2013, 02:51 PM
bagross bagross is offline
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Default Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Quote:
Originally Posted by dzrt_ranger View Post
Sounds like what happened to me a couple weeks bacm. Most likely your alternator is going bad. Do your gauges dim when you accelerate?
I haven't driven at night since this all started, but I'll try to see if that happens.

Do you think the shake is related?

Thanks
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  #5  
Old 02-14-2013, 12:34 PM
gknight18 gknight18 is offline
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Default Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Quote:
Originally Posted by bagross View Post
I haven't driven at night since this all started, but I'll try to see if that happens.

Do you think the shake is related?

Thanks
Yes when your under power/driving, the alt is under load making power.
When you stop the alt can't keep up with the power, that the system is pulling from it. Makes the engine drop lower in rpm and shakes a little.

----------

You can go and have the alt tested out at napa, I would do the battry too just to be safe.
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1998 Ranger Xlt: 4.0L | Auto | 4x4 | 201,000 miles
3" Body Lift | 33x12.50R15 Goodyear Duratracs | 31 Spline 8.8 Limited Slip | 4.10's | Explorer leaf springs | Crown Suspension 2 inch lift shackle | Power Everything | Explorer Sport Trac, Center Console, Bucket Seats, Hvac, Speed Cluster and vinyl floor / Alpine CDE-9870 / RCI Front Skid / C4x4 Front Bumper / Recon 10,500 lbs Waterproof Winch / 200 Amp Alt | Headache Rack | TG Rock Sliders.
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  #6  
Old 02-15-2013, 05:36 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Change your alternator. The shake will go away

SFDROIDBIONICUT2
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2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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  #7  
Old 02-18-2013, 07:35 AM
bagross bagross is offline
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Thanks folks. Tested alternator with volt meter and only got 12 volts, so I changed out the alternator with a reman. 95 amp (just like stock, I've got no aftermarket lights or stereo) - no problem, took maybe 30 mins. Test drove truck - no more battery light but shake still present. Then changed all the spark plugs and wires - what a pain in the bum that was - had to access one of the plugs through the passenger wheel well. Took hours and cut up my hands pretty good.

Anyway, that didn't help the shaking issue, so on to next steps. I'll take another look at motor mounts. I dread the thought of running compression test on cylinders bc of how hard they are to get at. Could also run fuel pressure test, and check for vacuum leaks... Mpg seems good, just drove a few hours on highway and all seems ok except shake is still there.

I'm wondering if its possibly a bad ignition coil? I've experienced a bad ignition coil in another vehicle where it would sputter and loose power at low rpms, which is certainly different than this which is just a relatively slight (but definitely new and perceptible) shake, felt mostly at idle and up to 1200 rpms (I'm idling at 750rpm). Maybe a bit pricey to just replace the coil, but that sounds like the easiest fix of all so far.

Any thoughts on what's going on?
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  #8  
Old 02-18-2013, 07:43 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Quote:
Originally Posted by bagross View Post
Thanks folks. Tested alternator with volt meter and only got 12 volts, so I changed out the alternator with a reman. 95 amp (just like stock, I've got no aftermarket lights or stereo) - no problem, took maybe 30 mins. Test drove truck - no more battery light but shake still present. Then changed all the spark plugs and wires - what a pain in the bum that was - had to access one of the plugs through the passenger wheel well. Took hours and cut up my hands pretty good.

Anyway, that didn't help the shaking issue, so on to next steps. I'll take another look at motor mounts. I dread the thought of running compression test on cylinders bc of how hard they are to get at. Could also run fuel pressure test, and check for vacuum leaks... Mpg seems good, just drove a few hours on highway and all seems ok except shake is still there.

I'm wondering if its possibly a bad ignition coil? I've experienced a bad ignition coil in another vehicle where it would sputter and loose power at low rpms, which is certainly different than this which is just a relatively slight (but definitely new and perceptible) shake, felt mostly at idle and up to 1200 rpms (I'm idling at 750rpm). Maybe a bit pricey to just replace the coil, but that sounds like the easiest fix of all so far.

Any thoughts on what's going on?
You need a detailed signature.

SFDROIDBIONICUT2
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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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  #9  
Old 02-18-2013, 11:13 AM
bagross bagross is offline
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It's updated... Anything else you want to know about the vehicle? What do you think is causing the shake? What would be next on the list to diagnose? Thanks again.
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  #10  
Old 02-18-2013, 12:31 PM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Quote:
Originally Posted by bagross View Post
It's updated... .
It is?

SFDROIDBIONICUT2
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2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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  #11  
Old 02-19-2013, 02:11 AM
bagross bagross is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by modelageek View Post

It is?

SFDROIDBIONICUT2
Yes, it shows exactly the same info as yours, I can't think of any other relevant information to include that will help in diagnosing the issue at hand. If you're using the FRF mobile app, make sure you turn signatures on:

Settings>Forum Reading Options>Show Signatures

2004 Ranger XLT FX4, 4X4, 4 Door, 4.0L SOHC, 5 Speed, Cruise/AC/Power Everything, 140k

Now, how about that engine shake?
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  #12  
Old 02-19-2013, 04:30 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

I use tap2 , however, just your signature is not showing up. Everyone else's is showing the signature. Weird.

If that was my truck I would

1) constantly check for codes.

2) tune up, maf, iacv, tb, air filter, fuel filter.

3) I doubt it is motor mounts.

SFDROIDBIONICUT2
__________________
2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).

Last edited by modelageek; 02-19-2013 at 04:52 AM.
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  #13  
Old 02-19-2013, 04:48 AM
modelageek modelageek is offline
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Default Re: Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Quote:
Originally Posted by bagross View Post
If you're using the FRF mobile app, make sure you turn signatures on

Settings>Forum Reading Options>Show Signatures



SFDROIDBIONICUT2

I do not use frf app because I could not get signatures. I am the signature police. I do not have that "reading options" ^^^^ on my frf app.
__________________
2004 Ext Cab, 4WD, 4.0, Auto, 154k. (4.0 engine is out of a 2009 Ranger w/96k) ( as of 7/1/2017)

2004 Ranger, Ext Cab, 2WD, 3.0, 5 speed , 4WABS, crank windows, no cruise, Edge 116k.(6/5,2014) (SOLD).
1999 Ford Ranger, Reg Cab, 2.5, 5 speed, 2WD, no AC, 150k (SOLD).
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  #14  
Old 02-25-2013, 09:39 PM
bagross bagross is offline
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Default Re: Battery light, shaky engine at idle

Ok folks, I brought the truck to my (chill) mechanic because I didn't want to play guessing games and throw money at it unnecessarily. The ignition coil checked out ok. The computer showed no misfires, just a slightly elevated fuel trim (~12%). We smoked the intake manifold and found no vacuum leaks. A bit of smoke exited the EGR valve, so cleaned it up. TB looked fine. Cleaned MAF. Left IACV alone since idle was steady at 750rpm. Mechanic didn't suspect fuel filter because flow of gas was steady. All the systems seemed to check out.

Looking at the pulleys, we noticed that the harmonic balancer seemed to be out of true. A close inspection didn't turn anything up. We took the serpentine belt off and ran the engine and the shake was still present.

We finally turned back to the forums, and someone on an Explorer thread mentioned that a bad harmonic balancer could be the culprit, and to check for a loose internal piece that could be felt by sticking a finger into the central bolt hole and feeling around the inside of that area. Sure enough, this piece was loose. (See attached image - the piece in the center should line up with the outer part) Ordered the part on Friday and installed it today (removed the old part with the aid of a puller).

Started her up and she's running as smooth as could be.
Glad I didn't throw down $80 for an unneeded ignition coil.

Hope this thread helps someone else who encounters this problem. Thanks to everyone for their help and suggestions. Good luck with your trucks, drive safe, and have fun!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg bad_harmonic_balancer.jpg (96.6 KB, 15 views)
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