F150 charging problem

[one more cast]

My 88 Ford plow trucks battery keeps going dead. The battery will take a charge with a charger and the amp meter on the dash says the alt. is charging but the battery goes dead while running the truck. I haven't put a meter on it yet but does anyone have any ideas what the problem could be. I'm thinking a bad connection between the alt and the battery but with the amp gauge showing charging I'm confused.

 

[dolluper]

Re: F150 charging problem

Yep the ten mill nut on the alto is probably loose the one going to the battery,or broken on the way,think you answered your question as long as battery cables clean and tight Do you have a junction block your pos cable hooks into if so check there to<br />Whoops Ford eh I was thinking Chevy does the idiot light on the dash work,if not replace it some Ford's in that age ran the bulb in series, no battery charging if bulb shot

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: F150 charging problem

Is it a one wire set up? Or is there a voltage regulator? Gee... you have a new plow truck on my 78 Ford plow truck I have to clean and re-ground the voltage regulator about every two years. I remove it and sand down to bare metal and re-attach the ground.<br /><br />I would pull all the connections then sand them and re-attach one at a time.<br /><br />Funny, I have been getting my old 78 ready too.... let's see... brake lines, wiring, oil change, patching up holes in the body and floorboards... a few braces here, a few there even fetched the plow down from the upper end of the yard.<br /><br />Let it snow! So... a few more problems can arise and I can get them over with. Annual ritual.

 

[one more cast]

Re: F150 charging problem

LOL Bob, I had 20 ton of item #4 dumped in the middle of my driveway yesterday and I was using my plow truck for a bulldozer. I think it has a built in regulator. I didn't get a chance to look at it yet. I thought I was on the right track but I'm not familiar with these ford electrics so was just checking to see if there was some place to check first.

 

[one more cast]

Re: F150 charging problem

OK now I'm really confused. The day before yesterday after I parked the truck I tried to restart it to see if the battery charged back up. I couldn't even get it to turn over one whole revoultion. The lights went out just like the battery was dead. Today I go out to work on it and it spins over like it has a new battery in it. I put the meter on the battery and it says 14.85 volts. I shut it off and it says 12.3 volts so it is charging ok. What do you think? Maybe a bad connection at the starter?

 

[Ron G]

Re: F150 charging problem

Sounds like what that jeep was doing maybe a nss switch?just a thought.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: F150 charging problem

Like I said check all the connections and yes I would include the starter. You probably have a fender mounted solinoid I would check that too.

 

[dolluper]

Re: F150 charging problem

If ALL conections alto ,starter,grounds,solinoid,battery are clean and tight.....<br />might be time to cough up a new battery

 

[Reel Poor]

Re: F150 charging problem

Agree with bob and dolluper, might als make sure that Ford starter isnt falling off/loose bolts. SERIOUSLY

 

[--GQ--]

Re: F150 charging problem

Originally posted by One More Cast:<br />[QB] My 88 Ford plow trucks battery keeps going dead. <br /><br /> There's your problem, it's a FORD. just kidding.<br />This might help:<br /> 1) start the truck. let it run 3- 5 minutes<br /> 2) disconnect the negetive terminal from the battery. If the <br /> engine still running, the alternator is good. skip to <br /> procedure # 4.<br /> 3) If the engine cut off, throw it in the gutter and go buy<br /> another. problem solved. Pat yourself on the back.<br /> 4) Leave the negative terminal disconnected and check the <br /> voltage between it and the positive terminal. If you get a <br /> normal voltage reading, all wire connections are good.<br /> 4) Mark " NFG " on the battery. Take it to an auto center and <br /> get a new one.

 

[one more cast]

Re: F150 charging problem

I think I found the problem. The ground cable from the battery is new at the battery but then spliced to an old rusted cable and wrapped with tape.

 

[Trent]

Re: F150 charging problem

disconnect the negetive terminal from the battery. If the <br />engine still running, the alternator is good.<br /><br />____________________________________________<br />NEVER DO THIS.... With todays modern engines. You can damage the computer!!!<br /><br />Check the voltage at the battery with a voltmeter before cranking and then after its running to check the alternator. It should rise in voltage after it is running.

 

[--GQ--]

Re: F150 charging problem

An alternator produces alternating current which is then converted to direct current thru a regulator/component; thus making it a battery that never dies as long as the engine keeps running. An alternator (a battery) is connected to your "car battery" in parallel along with all of your electronic equipments in the car. The reason for a "car battery" is to start your car engine since an alternator (a battery) can not store charges therefore can not your engine otherwise making your "car battery" obsolete. Furthermore, inspite of conventional wisdom, your "car battery" does not run electronic equipments in your car; the alternator (a battery) does. In fact a "car battery" is a load storing potiential engery from the alternator (a battery).<br /><br />Your car manufacture does not recommend disconnecting your "car battery" while the engine is running because of potiential voltage spike in the system, hence the key is on powering your electronic equipments. Most damages are due to human errors.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: F150 charging problem

Trent is correct, disconnecting the neg battery terminal while the motor is running can fry the CPU.<br /><br />GQ, the regulator regulates DC voltage, it doesn't convert AC to DC. That job is done by the rectifier which is built into the alt.<br /><br />Aldo

 

[dolluper]

Re: F150 charging problem

Trio diode

 

[--GQ--]

Re: F150 charging problem

GQ, the regulator regulates DC voltage, it doesn't convert AC to DC. That job is done by the rectifier which is built into the alt.<br /><br /><br />I said " regulator components", hence the word "components".<br /> Explaination: a regulator, regulates voltage coming out of the alternator to between 11.5 to 14.3 idealy. most electronic equipments will not function correctely under 11.5V and will overheat/fry over 14v. I stressed the word "components" refering to the functions of back-to-back diodes allowing only half of a cycle of a "SIN WAVE" thus creating D.C. Perhaps i should've spell it out. My fault.<br /><br />Again I've done it many times "disconnecting the negetive terminal from a battery while the engine running". I'm not saying you should do this, but as a last resort to solve a problem. Don't do it just for the hell of it. You get the idea.<br /><br /><br />Credit: EE USC class of 97

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: F150 charging problem

As bad as I hate to admit it, I do it the same way. Sometimes I just can't seem to get the answer with a tester so off the cable comes.