guages and warning lights but alt and battery test ok

bailthisout · #1 10-30-2010, 07:20 AM

intermintantly the spedo stops working the bat light comes on the brake lights come on the air bag light comes on then all go back to normal (working no lights) it just started having bursts of higher lighting power with the head lights when the issue takes place

it is a 2007 xlt (made in 06)
V6 4.0L 4x4

FireRanger · #2 10-30-2010, 07:27 AM

That is way too many completely unrelated systems to be an actual problem with only one of them. I would start looking around under the dash for large loose electrical connectors that go through the firewall.

bailthisout · #3 10-30-2010, 07:38 AM

I did not see anything lose broken or unconected under the hood
could this be a battery issue? also yesterday when it started again it happened first two weeks ago. the green eye was not green but by the time i got to the parts store the eye was green and everything tested ok

off topic- are clarks batt's any good vrs nappa.....???

thanks for the replys and the help im 2000 miles from home

FireRanger · #4 10-30-2010, 07:42 AM

No this is not a battery problem. I think it is either centered around the alternator itself or a connection problem under the dash or under the hood in a main wire harness. The brake light, air bags, and charging light are all completely isolated and separate systems. A failure in one can not manifest itself in the others.

bailthisout · #5 10-30-2010, 07:50 AM

ok thanks for your help
could the alt be intermitantly not working?
and should i just try to replace it even if its testing ok
can i beat with a hammer or spay something on it.......

FireRanger · #6 10-30-2010, 08:07 AM

It's hard to troubleshoot when it is intermittent. The most obvious is an alternator problem. The charging light can only come on when the alternator is not generating power and the circuit has to be intact and complete. Also, the fact that you say the lights get brighter is indicative of an alternator problem.

The ABS, brake lights, and speedo having problems at the same time make no sense as they are all unrelated. Unless the alternator is creating an over-voltage condition that is pissing the systems off.

bailthisout · #7 10-30-2010, 08:45 AM

ok so i just figured out that if i rev the engine the problem starts up
the bat light comes on and sometimes the gauges quit
the tach and the fuel gauge go to zero like they are unplugged???
does this help with an idea for a fix???

FireRanger · #8 10-30-2010, 09:08 AM

Yes. It says to me your alternator is toast. It's charging at low RPM but as the RPM increases, it shits itself.

05RangerEdge · #9 10-30-2010, 09:15 AM

I had a similar problem. Maybe this will help

Battery Light?

I ended up being able to just fix my alternater rather than replacing.

bailthisout · #10 10-30-2010, 10:14 AM

thanks a ton for all of your help and input
on the third time testing it and figureing out that reving it up
showed the problem
i reved hard during the test and the alt
was putting out way too much juice.....19 volts i tnk it was
so i guess it is the regulator in the alt
on a three year old truck come on ford you can do better than that
cant you...... to realy help things out i get to drive almost two hours away
so i can get the new alt.....or pay the same price for a reman and still have to wait three days for it to show up.....
if ford is going to make crap parts they could at least stock them.......
having a great time in moab...............