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04-28-2010, 09:37 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Alright so i went to start my truck this morning and it started. I let it warm up for about 30 seconds then it started chugging so i let it run a little longer and it was just getting worse. Then my lights started dimming and the radio shut off so i shut the truck off.
No other cars at the house to jump it so i went to school came back had brother in law jump it and follow me to autozone.
They tested my battery and he said the alternator wasn't doing anything. Drive back home (died 3 times) went and got an alternator off of an explorer (130 amp) Guy guaranteed it to work or he had another one he would give me.
Went home put it in and same problem. I tested the battery and it is only getting 12.28 volts. Not enough, so i wiggled the plugs and wires to see if they were loose and no luck nothing jumped up or changed it just slowly dropped.
Now i have no ride!!! Need your guys help
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
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04-28-2010, 09:50 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,921
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
everything about your issues scream battery to me...
especially since my parent's new-to-them car did the exact same thing and it was a dead cell in the battery...
What battery do you have in there? If it's the stocker, I'm surprised it lasted that long...
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'01 XLT disguised as a '03 Fx4 Level II.
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04-28-2010, 09:53 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Well I just replaced my battery a few weeks ago so ill return it under warranty and get a new one. Thanks Shane ill try that out
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
| 
04-28-2010, 09:53 PM
|  | Ford Tough | | Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 325
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Probably time for a new alternator and a new battery. (Depending on how old it is)
I would start off by cleaning the terminals and the connections. What you described sounds like the bad alternator caused too much stress on you battery and now its bad.
__________________
(SOLD) 2003 Ranger 4.0L V6 FX4
2001 F150 Supercrew Triton V8 (DD)
2008 Fusion 3.0L SEL V6 (my baby)
1992 Taurus SHO MTX (my toy-almost Supercharged)
2004 Nissan Murano SL AWD (Wife's car)
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04-28-2010, 09:53 PM
|  | Learning to use the forums | | Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 28
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
It may have started out with an alternator going bad, but its been my experience that a lot of times when the alternator goes bad it ends up making your battery go bad too. I don't know if its where it not giving the battery the amperage it needs or what, but it seems like every time I have to replace an alternator the battery is not far behind.
__________________ 94 Ford Ranger XLT 4x4 Extended Cab .
4.0 Automatic.
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04-28-2010, 09:55 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Thanks a lot guys I will get a new battery tommorow
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
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04-29-2010, 05:34 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
So i replaced my battery and same probelm
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
| 
04-29-2010, 05:49 PM
|  | Ford Tough | | Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 325
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
so its starting and then dieing after running for awhile......and the lights are dimming? If so I would have to believe you need a new alternator. Like was said in a previous post they got bad around the same time.
__________________
(SOLD) 2003 Ranger 4.0L V6 FX4
2001 F150 Supercrew Triton V8 (DD)
2008 Fusion 3.0L SEL V6 (my baby)
1992 Taurus SHO MTX (my toy-almost Supercharged)
2004 Nissan Murano SL AWD (Wife's car)
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04-29-2010, 05:59 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
I replaced the alternator with one from an explorer. He guaranteed it to work. I am going to auto zone once i get a ride to test the old alternator and the new one and my old battery so we will see what happens
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
| 
04-29-2010, 06:01 PM
|  | Ford Tough | | Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 325
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
That sucks man. Sorry about the hit to your wallet.
__________________
(SOLD) 2003 Ranger 4.0L V6 FX4
2001 F150 Supercrew Triton V8 (DD)
2008 Fusion 3.0L SEL V6 (my baby)
1992 Taurus SHO MTX (my toy-almost Supercharged)
2004 Nissan Murano SL AWD (Wife's car)
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04-29-2010, 06:03 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Yea that's why I need that stuff to sell! Insurance is do next week
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
| 
04-30-2010, 12:53 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Alright did a new battery and took both of the alternators to autozone. My stock one is fine as so is the explorer. Could it be the wire going to the battery from the alternator?
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
| 
04-30-2010, 04:08 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Thought maybe the starter solenoid was bad, had it tested and it's good. I don't know what else to do at this point
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
| 
05-02-2010, 06:37 PM
|  | Blinded by the light | | Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,019
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator This is not a battery problem.
Either the original and second alternator are both shot or the fusible link from the alternator to the power distribution box is blown. Test voltage AT THE ALTERNATOR (the big wire). If you have 13+vdc there but not at the battery, then your fusible link is toast. Its on the end of the wire from the alternator to the power distro box (instead of a fuse).
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05-02-2010, 06:45 PM
|  | Ford Ranger Driver | | Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,612
| | Re: Can't drive my truck! Need help ASAP with alternator
Well i Tested the voltage on both. They are both reading 12.2 but it is starting and running now with out having to jump it and only one headlight turns on no figs no gauge cluster and the power steering feels funny. I dropped it off at my school so maybe they can fix it
__________________
2001 3.0 V6 Automatic "Police Interceptor"
4x4 Off-Road
3" Body Lift
Belltech 6400 Shackles
JBA Headers
Underdrive Pulleys
To Come: Locker-Rear disc conversion-Front Hitch-Line X-Train Horn
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