Battery light - 11.3 volts

[ExplorerTom]

So I checked out all the wiring: the fuseable link, the fuses, the battery cables, the main engine harnesses. I checked for voltage and continuity. I checked everything I could think of and everything the Haynes manual said. The next step in the procedure was the start the motor and check stuff- now I have 14.0-14.3 volts.

Great.

Since I removed the upper radiator hose, I drained out 2 gallons of nasty coolant (and I just flushed the radiator pretty good about 6 weeks ago) I refilled with new and let the motor get up to temp. Voltage stayed pretty much right at 14.0.

I hate fixing stuff and not knowing if I actually fixed it, got lucky or just what. But it seems to be fixed now.

 

[stamp11127]

Might be interested in doing a voltage drop test on the negative side of the charging circuit - alt case to neg battery post with engine running. Should be less than .5v.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Light came back on today for the first time since Monday. Checked the voltage at the battery with a multimeter because I've heard the ScanGauge doesn't read accurately. Multimeter was showing 11.9 while the SG was around 11.5.

Got a new (not remanufactured) alternator from O'Reilly's.

Install was easy since I didn't remove the upper radiator hose.

Voltage is now at 14.4 to 14.0 with the AC on full blast.

Old alternator made a grinding noise when the pulley was spun by hand. New one is quiet and smooth.