I have a 2.5L with a 200a Ohio Gen alt and a powermaster d1200 for a starter battery. The battery and alt are both less than 2 yrs old. This has happened to me about 3 times over the past month: I go to start my truck and it won't turn over. The interior lights come on but I'm getting a 10.8v reading at both the alt and battery. Since the alt and battery are not very old I don't think they are the problem. I've checked all connections to both the alt and batt and they are solid, so are the terminals on the batt. After jumping the truck and letting it run for a while the voltage goes up and the truck will re-start after turning it off. Do you think my starter is going out? Thanks for any help you can give me!

After sitting over night the battery was resting at 11.4v with the truck off. It started right up the first time. I don't have anything that could be draining the battery while it is off either. Any ideas?

does it start with a jump

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1992 ranger 5.0 5 speed 373 gears makes a fun toy
1998 ranger x cab v8 conversion ohc crown vic dome light explorer sport gauges mp3 20% tint clear dimond head lights smoked tails 16'' mustang wheels flowmasters tano

Yes it started right up after I jumped it. Voltage immediately went up to above 14.4v. I let it run for about 10 min, turned it off, and it started up again with no assistance. I let it sit overnight and checked the voltage the following morning and it was 11.8v but it still started right up.

alternator?

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1992 Ford Ranger STX 4x4
4.0 Liter (6 cylinder)
"When I grow up I want to be an F150"

Alternator should be good since it's recharging the battery after the jump. It's as if something is pulling power from the battery over night and draining it. It doesn't drain it to where it won't start every night, just occasionally. It's happened 3 times in the past month now. I should add that it's been pretty cold here lately.

Didn't start again this morning. Voltage was down to 10.4v.

First off charge the battery either by the Alt. or a charger. Then disconnect your Neg. terminal and check voltage on the battery, then after it sits for 24 hours check it again, if it holds a charge then the battery is ok, if it doesn't then the battery is bad. If it holds a charge with the terminal disconnected then you have something draining your battery.

Thanks raygun. I ended up pulling the battery out and charging it at Autozone. It wouldn't hold a charge so I guess it WAS the battery that was giving me trouble. Luckily I have a warranty through Powermaster.

Cool, glad you found the problem. Now look at mine in the Electrical Tech section.

here is the link
http://www.fordrangerforum.com/electrical-tech/5726-wont-start.html[/URL]