Battery light coming on a lot more often...

[ENDEE666]

A while back, I noticed my battery light coming on when accellerating hard. Only seemed to come on at like 6k+ rpm. As of last night, its coming on at like 4k+ and the headlights went way dim when it was on, so did interior dash lights. Once I let off the gas & dropped the rpms back down, the lights were ok again...

What could it be? I am going to clean the batt terminals & change the terminals themselves. Plus I may add an additional ground wire or two.

Please tell me its not the alternator, cause that looks like an expensive job due to where it is & how hard to reach it is.... Belt maybe? Maybe just the grounds? Or is there maybe something shorting out thats associated with the revs? Anything else inexpensive?

Thanks!
Nick

 

[SHOZ123]

Probably the brush set in the alternator.

 

[ENDEE666]

that mean replacement?

 

[1stSHO]

Did you pay your electric bill????

 

[ENDEE666]

LOL, yeah, its paid...

So the idea with the brushes, can it be fixed? Any way of buying some time?

Thanks

 

[SHOZ123]

Brushes would be part of a rebuild. Can't put them in without taking the alt out.

 

[MilTownSHO]

Its the alternator, been there, done that, trust me.

 

[ENDEE666]

Yeah, went to Ford today & they said its definitely the alternator....

$584 BUX!!!! Thats NUTS!! The V6 version olny called for like $300! They don't even use KY before the **** ***********!

Well my lights were pretty dim tonight, gonna call around local mechanics & see how much I can maybe get a used or rebuilt one thrown in.....

THIS SUX RIGHT BEFORE XMAS!!!!

 

[ENDEE666]

Died on the way to work today....... God this sucks....

 

[Sagabu]

Was that labor included at Ford? At least if it fails again, they will cover the labor as well. maybe ???
I have had the best luck w/the Westling remanufactured from Car-Quest. About $180.00. Make sure they don`t give you a Windstar alt and compair pullies.
DO NOT buy a cheap auto-Zone or advance autoparts alt unless you really like paying you mechanic alot.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

I rebuilt my alternator. Brand new Motorcraft regulator, SKF bearings, new rotor, new heavy duty rectifier. First time over 5000 rpm the battery light came on. Replaced the regulator with a Transpo regulator. Fire the car up, battery light on steady. Replaced with brand new Ford alternator... battery light above 5000 rpm. I'm giving up on it till spring.

It might be worth paying the extra $$$ at the dealer. That way if it the thing doesn't work or fails a few months later they should warranty both the alternator and the labour.

 

[SHOZ123]

How's you belt Ian? Do you have any under drive pulleys on? Maybe a smaller belt would help.

 

[Ian Macoomb]

I've got the power steering UDP on there but it's larger. Had the stock belt on there till last week. I've got a UDP belt on there and now it's squeeling badly. It needs to come off but I'm parking it for the winter so it can wait.

 

[venom]

Unlikely but...

Yeah, went to Ford today & they said its definitely the alternator....

$584 BUX!!!! Thats NUTS!! The V6 version olny called for like $300! They don't even use KY before the **** ***********!

Well my lights were pretty dim tonight, gonna call around local mechanics & see how much I can maybe get a used or rebuilt one thrown in.....

THIS SUX RIGHT BEFORE XMAS!!!!

Check your belt tensioner,maybe your belt is slipping. Check the tensioner for smooth full range of travel. But it is probably the alt but a tensioner would be a lot cheaper / easier.

 

[Flyguyeddy]

i have a similar problem. but i can repair mine if i get out of the car, open the hood, and wiggle the injector harness or pound on the appearance cover loom thingy (the one that runs above the power steering pump)

its getting very irritating to deal with. does anyone know where the small plug on the alternator (plugs into the rectifier) gets its power from in teh harness? i would assume injector source, but i cant be sure.

 

[SHOZ123]

The power comes from the under hood fuse box.