charging system problems

Purple1995Pony · 07-19-2006, 10:41 AM

I need some ideas what to check for a charging system problem... it's not charging the battery!!!

obvious or not so obvious......any ideas at all would be appreciated

new alternator & battery already installed in my '94 GT

coupe · 07-19-2006, 12:12 PM

I've seen "new" alternators that were bad. If you got it at an autoparts store, take it off and have them check it on their machine...or take it to Advanced Autoparts and they'll check the Alt. for free. They have a built-in regulator...sometimes it's not set where it needs to be.

Also, something could be just not grounded well...or the lead-wire to your battery could be too small of a gauge.

Blown 5.0 · 07-19-2006, 03:43 PM

Im not sure what model you are talking about. But on the older mustang it does have a internal regulator, but it also has a exciter wire also. key on wire will be what you are looking for. I have seen this wire break on other Ford products.

QWKSNKE · 07-19-2006, 06:53 PM

I agree with the others on checking all wires including the "little" ground wires

Purple1995Pony · 07-20-2006, 07:17 AM

Thanks! I'll be crawling under and fishing around checking those little wires and big ones too

TheJeanyus · 07-20-2006, 08:45 AM

I had to replace the negative (IIRC) battery cable in the Thunderbird a while back when it was doing the same thing. In my dad's driveway (it started at the mall, but we managed to jump it off and as long as you didn't turn it off, it was ok), in the rain, and in the dark.

The cable wasn't broken, but it was really corroded.

Catang5oh · 07-20-2006, 11:42 AM

well, if an internal regulator, you can start the car and unhook the positive cable, car should run if alternator is good, if it dies then alternator is not working. another old trick is to take a screwdriver and place near the rear bearing in the center of the case, if it is making voltage there will be a magnetic field ceated near the bearing which will pull the screwdriver to the alternator, if it does and you still dont have any charge, then the internal regulator may be bad( to quote earlier response)

Italian LX · 07-20-2006, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJeanyus

I had to replace the negative (IIRC) battery cable in the Thunderbird a while back when it was doing the same thing. In my dad's driveway (it started at the mall, but we managed to jump it off and as long as you didn't turn it off, it was ok), in the rain, and in the dark.

The cable wasn't broken, but it was really corroded.

Yeah, I had a similar problem. The cable looked fine upon a quick visual inspection, but on the underneath, the insulation was split and allowed the inside of the cable to corrode excesively. A new baterry and a new alternator will do you no good if this is your problem.

It's a pretty short cable and only a few bucks at an auto parts store -- I'd replace that first and go from there.

07-19-2006, 10:41 AM	#1
Purple1995Pony Friends' Dad/Dad-in-Law Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Taunton, MA Posts: 510	charging system problems I need some ideas what to check for a charging system problem... it's not charging the battery!!! obvious or not so obvious......any ideas at all would be appreciated new alternator & battery already installed in my '94 GT

07-19-2006, 12:12 PM	#2
coupe Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 6,313	Re: charging system problems I've seen "new" alternators that were bad. If you got it at an autoparts store, take it off and have them check it on their machine...or take it to Advanced Autoparts and they'll check the Alt. for free. They have a built-in regulator...sometimes it's not set where it needs to be. Also, something could be just not grounded well...or the lead-wire to your battery could be too small of a gauge. __________________ " If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. " - Albert Einstein

07-19-2006, 03:43 PM	#3
Blown 5.0 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Looking for more ways to add BOOST Posts: 167	Re: charging system problems Im not sure what model you are talking about. But on the older mustang it does have a internal regulator, but it also has a exciter wire also. key on wire will be what you are looking for. I have seen this wire break on other Ford products. __________________ Hauling A** on Pump Gas !!!!!

07-19-2006, 06:53 PM	#4
QWKSNKE 3v's are slow Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Here and There Posts: 17,152	Re: charging system problems I agree with the others on checking all wires including the "little" ground wires __________________ 2009 Porsche Carrera S 2008 ///AMG C63.. Eurocharge Tune. RIP 2019 AMG GLC43..wife's 03 F250 SD.. Edge Evo, AFE Stage 1 CAI 08 GT. JBA axle back, FRPP springs, FRPP swaybars.. daughter's 01 Cobra vert... wife's I need a new toy

07-20-2006, 07:17 AM	#5
Purple1995Pony Friends' Dad/Dad-in-Law Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Taunton, MA Posts: 510	Re: charging system problems Thanks! I'll be crawling under and fishing around checking those little wires and big ones too

07-20-2006, 08:45 AM	#6
TheJeanyus Administrator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 14,774	Re: charging system problems I had to replace the negative (IIRC) battery cable in the Thunderbird a while back when it was doing the same thing. In my dad's driveway (it started at the mall, but we managed to jump it off and as long as you didn't turn it off, it was ok), in the rain, and in the dark. The cable wasn't broken, but it was really corroded. __________________ 1998 Mustang GT Coupe - World's Slowest Racecar 2005 Toyota 4Runner SR5 V8 2013 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen TDI

07-20-2006, 11:42 AM	#7
Catang5oh Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Between the A and the T Posts: 365	Re: charging system problems well, if an internal regulator, you can start the car and unhook the positive cable, car should run if alternator is good, if it dies then alternator is not working. another old trick is to take a screwdriver and place near the rear bearing in the center of the case, if it is making voltage there will be a magnetic field ceated near the bearing which will pull the screwdriver to the alternator, if it does and you still dont have any charge, then the internal regulator may be bad( to quote earlier response)