Hi all, will be looking thru archives and my manual, but thought maybe this would be something really obvious to all of you and I would have a place to start! Would really love to have this figured out before my "other half" gets home and I have to ask him to do it!

1990 Ranger, 4cyl, manual. 245000 miles young (and running great).

Brain fart the other day, popped clutch and stalled truck in gear when arrived at destination. Got out of truck, unwittingly left key "on." 5 hours or so later, returned to truck, dead as doornail. Tried to push/compression start on downhill, would not stay running. Close to home so just switched battery from other vehicle, Ranger started right away and ran perfectly.

Next day notice battery light on. Run a few errands, check engine light flickers on and off a few times, battery light stays glowing. Next day, friends borrow truck, they report it cranks slowly but dies. Jump starts engine but won't run on its own. I go get truck, put now recharged original battery back in, starts and runs great but battery light glowing, figure it's going to drain again.

So, my question. Is there something I probably "fried" by leaving the key on? Hoping it's a regulator or something small and not the alternator itself.

Thanks for any input. And I don't mind if you say how stupid I was for doing this to the truck in the first place!!

Regina

id check the voltage regulator first...might just be a coincedence it happened when it did...ive seen ign. left on and after you jump start it its fine and nothing else happens

__________________
2021 F150 5.0 Screw

Past:18 F150 2.7, 16 F150 5.0, 14 F150 5.0, 07 F150 5.4, 03 Ranger 4.0

Master Certified Ford Parts / Warranty Admin

Thanks Dj! Will check that, am referring to the manual now for the test procedures. Will let you know what we find out.
Appreciate the input.
Regina
ps fine looking truck you have!

no problem and thanks!

__________________
2021 F150 5.0 Screw

Past:18 F150 2.7, 16 F150 5.0, 14 F150 5.0, 07 F150 5.4, 03 Ranger 4.0

Master Certified Ford Parts / Warranty Admin

sounds like an alternator to me once the truck has drained the battery it wont stay running because alt in not working once you put a charged bat in runs fine till it drains that one

Update -
As it turns out, it was the alternator. Was wishful thinking that it would only be the VR I guess! Just a strange coincidence that I ran the battery down by leaving the key on and this happened - but I suppose that was the last straw.

When we took the voltage regulator off to check the brushes, one had actually worn so far down that the spring was rubbing on the rotor, and it was scored (235,000 miles on the truck, you'd think they'd at least last a quarter million ... ). Can't believe the truck never had a problem or indicated anything was wrong before I ran it dead! It wouldn't have been long.

Thankfully we've got a great automotive electrical shop nearby (Inland Auto Electric in Ellensburg, WA if anyone in that area needs some really quality work done), and she had a rebuilt alt on the shelf. So we're back up and running and charging away.

Thanks for your input!!

Regina