Alternator?

[Zpak]

So I was waiting to pick up my daughter from school, car off accessory on for radio. When I started it back up I got the Check Charging System message and battery light. Started driving and it went off. Started it this morning to go to work and had the same message and light again. Pulled out of my driveway and had no power steering. Wrestled it back in the garage and checked the battery volts while still running and only got 11.6. No time before work to do any more testing but I’m assuming the alternator is smoked.

Anything else I can do to confirm? And, anybody ever change one? Doesn’t look super fun.

 

[GHNorth]

These cars eat batteries. I would check that first.

 

[Nova]

Maybe it's just a bad battery

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

 

[yaycandy]

I had same issues and it was the battery. Even though it was 3-4 years old. I put a new tough max in it and it made alot of issues go away like tuning wise. Old battery is in my old yard truck doing fine

 

[Zpak]

Battery is my third, new in august 2020. Knowing these cars destroy them wouldn’t surprise me but six months.

 

[yaycandy]

Battery is my third, new in august 2020. Knowing these cars destroy them wouldn’t surprise me but six months.

Check grounds. There are a few. One of mine was iffy and i cleaned it up also. Check alternator wiring also

 

[Zpak]

Thanks for the reply’s. I’ll poke around tonight.

 

[Majestic]

Probably Ford's stupid BLM. Did you reset it when replacing the batteries?

 

[Zpak]

Probably Ford's stupid BLM. Did you reset it when replacing the batteries?

I did not. I know it exists but that’s as far as it goes. How do you reset it?

 

[Majestic]

I did not. I know it exists but that’s as far as it goes. How do you reset it?

You can reset it with Forscan. I don't know how much good it does, though. I still have issues with it.

 

[Zpak]

That’s what I figured. I don’t have forscan. I looked at videos with a sequence of flashing the brights five times and hitting the brake three times. Had my wife try it since I’m not home and she said it didn’t work.

 

[Majestic]

That’s what I figured. I don’t have forscan. I looked at videos with a sequence of flashing the brights five times and hitting the brake three times. Had my wife try it since I’m not home and she said it didn’t work.

I haven't done this, and I'm not saying that you should, but I have seen instructions on how to disconnect the BMS monitor from the negative battery cable. My car always starts and runs fine, but it will not maintain a full charge no matter what. I can disconnect the battery and charge it to full, then reconnect it and reset the BMS in Forscan, and within a couple of days it will be back to 12 volts or less. The charging system tests fine, so I think the BMS is fubared.

 

[Hebes10]

I've gone through two batteries where the voltage tests fine but the amps are very low. Had to bring it in to dealer to confirm bad battery.

 

[Zpak]

Pulled the codes:
P0625 - generator field/F terminal circuit low
P065B - generator control circuit range/performance

Cleaned anything ground, terminal, and plug related around the battery. I’m getting 12.1 volts on the battery sitting, and 11.3 while running. Tested my Edge battery for reference, 12.5 sitting and 14.4 running.

Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s the battery.

 

[yaycandy]

Time to replace alternator. How many miles on it? You can remove it and get it tested at like an autozone.
Buy either oem or denso

 

[Zpak]

I started it several times and it started fine. Runs for about thirty seconds then the check charging system warning comes up and battery light. As soon as it pops up the steering is gone.

 

[Zpak]

Time to replace alternator. How many miles on it? You can remove it and get it tested at like an autozone.
Buy either oem or denso

Just a tick under 90K miles

 

[yaycandy]

Or have ford check it. They will charge alot for the work but not the diagnostics

 

[PaulTAutoX]

Are those models electric steering? If so, ignore me. If not, sounds like a connection between the alternator showing low and PS not working, I can only figure belt-related.

 

[Majestic]

Are those models electric steering? If so, ignore me. If not, sounds like a connection between the alternator showing low and PS not working, I can only figure belt-related.

Electric. I've started getting the random p0016 code that will go away when I charge the battery overnight. I ordered a new battery as I also get the check charging system message. Fortunately, the car runs fine and I don't lose steering.