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  #1  
Old 11-04-2013, 08:18 AM
Shorthair Shorthair is offline
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Default 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

On 10-30-2013 the Alternator on our 97 Ranger 4 banger went out.
Replaced it that day and went on about my business. Drove it about 120 miles over the next 4 days and everything seemed fine. Today 11-4-2013 the battery light came on on the dash and the needle on the charge gauge started reading at the low end of the range. Would the alternator going bad screw up the battery? The battery is only about 18 mo old. Thanks for your help.
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  #2  
Old 11-04-2013, 08:21 AM
OhioMike OhioMike is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shorthair View Post
On 10-30-2013 the Alternator on out 97 Ranger 4 banger went out.
Replaced it that day and wnet on about my business. Today 11-4-2013 the battery light came on on the dash and the needle on the charge gauge started reading at the low end of the range. Would the alternator going bad screw up the battery? The battery is only about 18 mo old. Thanks for your help.
The alternator going bad could definitely cause the battery to drain, thus shortening its life. I would go to Autozone, or another auto parts place, and have them test the battery and the alternator. There is a chance that the alternator failed. Is it new or a remanufactured? Second, there is a chance that the battery is indeed bad. Third, it could be one heck a coincidence, and maybe something else is happening, such as bad battery cables.
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Old 11-04-2013, 08:23 AM
Shorthair Shorthair is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

We bought the replacement alternator new from NAPA. Not sure if it is considered new or rebuilt. We cleaned the terminals and cable ends. The cables appeared to be in good shape. I will take the battery in to pepboys tonight and get it checked. Hope i make it the 15 miles hme from work tonight. Today the battery light varied from bright to dim as I was driving. When the alternator went out last week the light came on and stayed on bright until it went kablooee.

Last edited by Shorthair; 11-04-2013 at 08:28 AM.
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  #4  
Old 11-04-2013, 08:33 AM
OhioMike OhioMike is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

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Originally Posted by Shorthair View Post
We bought the replacement alternator new from NAPA. Not sure if it is considered new or rebuilt. We cleaned the terminals and cable ends. The cables appeared to be in good shape. I will take the battery in to pepboys tonight and get it checked. Hope i make it the 15 miles hme from work tonight. Today the battery light varied from bright to dim as I was driving. When the alternator went out last week the light came on and stayed on bright until it went kablooee.
I would say that it sounds as though the battery is the culprit, however, it has to be determined first. If you bought the alternator 'new' from NAPA then it is new. I needed an alternator for my 04' Ranger, and I bought a 'remanufactured' one from Autozone, which was clearly explained as 'remanufactured' but still came with a warranty.
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  #5  
Old 11-04-2013, 01:37 PM
bburgwin01 4*4 4.0 bburgwin01 4*4 4.0 is offline
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I have a similar issue when it rains the battery light comes on very slight change in the gauge, when it's dry no battery light. It reads 15 volts starts great every time my battery is a year old and my alternator is two years old it's a napa one. I called a buddy at napa to see if I can get a replacement

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  #6  
Old 11-04-2013, 01:50 PM
buggman buggman is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

Could definitely be the alternator going bad that's killing the battery.

I had a mustang & the alternator went out on the way to work one night, but the time I got there the battery was nearly dead. When I tried to start it to go home got nothing but a few relay clicks.
Killed the battery too
Replaced both & it ran like new again.
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Old 11-05-2013, 02:23 AM
Mike In Bama Mike In Bama is offline
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This is also the time of year for batteries to start showing their age. Nearly everyone I've ever had to replace was during the first or second cold snap of the year.

That may be relative, considering you're in San Diego.

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Old 11-05-2013, 03:26 AM
Spidey2011 Spidey2011 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shorthair View Post
We bought the replacement alternator new from NAPA. Not sure if it is considered new or rebuilt. We cleaned the terminals and cable ends. The cables appeared to be in good shape. I will take the battery in to pepboys tonight and get it checked. Hope i make it the 15 miles hme from work tonight. Today the battery light varied from bright to dim as I was driving. When the alternator went out last week the light came on and stayed on bright until it went kablooee.
Get a motorcraft alternator. I havent bought a parts store alternator yet that lasted more than a few months.

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  #9  
Old 11-05-2013, 08:26 AM
Shorthair Shorthair is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

I went home last night and took the battery in to a shop to get checked. They said it was good to go. Checked all the connections on the alternator, battery and the belt and tensioner this morning before work and all seemed ok. The battery dash light stayed on and the gauge read low all the way to work. Pulled in the parking lot and right before I took shut it off the gauge needle jumped back to normal and the light went off !! Reved it up and watched for a couple of minutes before I shut the engine off and all looked normal. I hope this is the end of it. I will post again tomorrow morning as to whether it is.

Last edited by Shorthair; 11-05-2013 at 10:39 AM.
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  #10  
Old 11-05-2013, 11:23 AM
OhioMike OhioMike is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

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Originally Posted by Mike In Bama View Post
This is also the time of year for batteries to start showing their age. Nearly everyone I've ever had to replace was during the first or second cold snap of the year.
Funny, you mention that. I was out shopping on Halloween, which was raining, windy, and cold, and it was our first 'cold' day of the year. I saw a guy jumping his wife in the parking lot of Wal-Mart, and then, I hit the gas station, and a customer was having trouble restarting his car.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Shorthair View Post
Reved it up and watched for a couple of minutes before I shut the engine off and all looked normal. I hope this is the end of it. I will post again tomorrow morning as to whether it is.
You do have a 16 year old car, and gremlins will start popping up. I would say that if everything checked-out O.K., then monitor it. You can't be needlessly throwing money at it in hopes that the issue will go away.
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  #11  
Old 11-06-2013, 08:13 AM
Shorthair Shorthair is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

Update: I drove it home last night and ran a few errands. Drove it 15 the miles back to work today. The battery dash light has stayed off and the and the gauge needle has stayed in the normal range. I am considering this saga closed. Thanks for all of the intput.
I will be shopping this weekend for another Ranger for a work truck. The one with the Alternator/Batt problems is my Dads.
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  #12  
Old 11-08-2013, 10:37 PM
bburgwin01 4*4 4.0 bburgwin01 4*4 4.0 is offline
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I've been having similar issues napa warranties their alternators for two years I just got mine replaced charges good now

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  #13  
Old 11-09-2013, 04:00 AM
AmericanPride! AmericanPride! is offline
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I just had my alternator go out recently and yes it fried my battery. Got a new motorcraft battery with a "blemish" for like $45 with full warranty and got an Autozone refurb alt for now. Lifetime warranty on the alternator. It's actually a rebuilt Motorcraft one that was about $125. I'll be buying a high output alt when I can so I got this to essentially be my back up for then

The battery is only meant to start the engine...not run it. No alternator will kill a battery quick. Deep cycle it and it's toast
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  #14  
Old 11-11-2013, 08:44 AM
Shorthair Shorthair is offline
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Default Re: 97 Ranger Alternator/Battery Problems

Update, the battery dash light came back on and the gauge dropped low again 5 days after I last saw it. I am assuming the battery must be cooked even though a parts store told me it was ok. My dad is taking it to his mechanic to get it checked out.
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