Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

Have a 2005, 6-cylinder, 4.0 liter, Ford Ranger Edge w/manual transmission. Last weekend had to jumpstart truck. Drove it approx 20 miles, warning lights came on and truck died. Cleaned clips and posts. Charged again. Truck stopped when left idling after jump. Required additional jump to restart. Didn't let truck idle, drove 10 miles to closest driveway and tools. Unable to replicate problem.

This weekend was driving truck; stalled and required jump to restart. Battery tested at 12.5 volts, 7 v when starting truck. Drove 100 feet, stopped truck to buy enough gas to make it to mechanic. Truck started, was left idling, power cut off, required another jump.

Mechanic tested alternator said readings were fine -- alternator less than a year old. Walmart tested battery, said voltage was fine and worked ok under load. Reinstalled battery. Cable insulation looks ok. Clips are tight, appear to make good contact. Started up truck. Battery light came on. Drove 5 miles, truck stopped working. Jumpstarted truck. Truck wouldn't continue to run at an idle. When truck died, required another jump to restart. Reved both trucks to charge. Drove truck 5 miles home. Did not allow to idle enroute. Arrived home. Left truck idling in neutral for 10 min. Did not stall out. Turned truck off and back on several times w/no problem.

Mechanic diagnostic one month ago said truck needed new spark plugs and wires. That was the only problem that registered. Have parts, haven't worked on truck yet. Seems an unlikely fix ... Any other ideas?

ANSWER: Mechanic says the regulator was fried. (It's not often that we have the truck off the road. So while we were waiting to get into the shop, I replaced the spark plugs and wires.)

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

sounds like it could be your IAC, but not 100% sure

In a nutshell, when you are drive with the throttle open, the throttle body allows air to enter the engine, thus resulting in the truck to move. When you idle, the throttle body is closed, but the IAC(Idle air Control) open up and allowsair to enter the engine so the truck won't stall. If the IAC is FUBAR, the truck will stall out from no air in the system. Since you said it doesn't happen all the time, the IAC might be on the last legs. When did the problem start with the truck dieing when idleing?

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

That really sounds like an alternator issue. I had a truck do the same thing and it was an alternator. Try starting the truck, pull the battery terminals off while its running and see if it stays running. Its a simple test of the alternator. I'm a bit curious to see what it could be if it isnt the alternator

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

The IAC is not going to cause the battery to die. The engine is dying due to low voltage.

Do you have a voltmeter? I need to know what the battery terminal voltage is with the engine running at idle. If it is 13.5+, then your alternator is working fine. If it is less than that, then you have and alternator or wiring problem.

If the battery light on the dash is on, your alternator is probably toast. That light comes on when the key is on and alternator is not generating power. If the light is NOT on, then I would suspect the wire from the alternator to the power distribution box or the fusible link that connects to it.

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

Do not remove the battery cables on a computer controlled truck while running.

When you tested the battery voltage, was it with or without the vehicle running. A good battery, fully charged should not drop below 9.6 volts when cranking.

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

DO NOT REMOVE THE CABLES WHILE RUNNING


remove your alternator and have it checked at a local parts store

sounds like your alternator took a crap and its taking your battery with it if it hasn't already....

without your alternator, your truck runs off the battery....battery dies = truck dies
sounds like your alternator is not working at the lower Rpms and your battery can't keep up anymore.


P.S.
walmart???? really.....you'll trust them with your vehicle? you're a brave one

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

Your power wire from the battery going to your starter is probably grounding on the frame, starter, or block. That's why the issue is intermittent. It's a short to ground. Get a bright flashlight in the dark go look closely from under the truck to find where the wire is grounding. Move the wire around a little to see where it could be swinging or bouncing to touch, then if nothing looks the culprit at the cable line, check it's connection to the starter to see if it is frayed and grounding out at the terminal.

You'll find this short a lot easier to find at night as it is likely to be sparking when it happens. Keep your hands away from the belts and fan, start the engine from dead cold, and shake all the wiring around if you are not successful at first inspecting the main power wire all the way back to the starter. The reason it is a short to ground is because the only way to intermittently drop the voltage and still pass the alternator test is by a short that comes and goes when you bounce over something and start the grounding process.

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It will, if the cable is shorting to the frame. That's why the battery performs properly SOMETIMES. Batteries don't come and go on voltage as we know. Once they drop, they are dead until recharged. This battery worked intermittently as did the alt. It was never dead, it was being drug down from high amps. It's also why the truck stalls while at idle. The ignition voltage drops from the short.

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On the right track. :)

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

If it was doing that, the truck would be on fire.

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

Funny, but wrong. Seen shorted battery cables on the frame many times. They just bounce on and off. In rare cases I have also seen the battery get replaced with a slightly taller one and it short on the hood on certain larger bumps.

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

If it was just bouncing on and off, then it wouldn't just be happening at idle now would it? That would certainly stall it out but it would happen all the time, not just while idling. And it would not drain the battery either. If it was doing it enough to kill the battery like is happening here, then there would be smoke and it would be stalling it out during all phases of driving. You're not looking at the big picture of the problem. So no, I'm not wrong.

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

You're wrong, That's all I know to tell you. Sorry. :)

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

And that's about all its worth too. I've explained why it is what it is. All you've got is one-liners. Gee I wonder who the OP will trust.

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

Doesn't matter what the OP does, You're still wrong. :) How they figure that out won't change it. ;)

Re: Stumped ... Stalls when idling, requires jump to restart
 

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