Long Time Reader in Iraq Wife needs help!

[hittmaniii]

I'm stuck in Iraq and can't get home anytime soon. I have read many problems with electrical issues resulting from leaky windshield. My wife drives my 2000 xlt 4.6L Expy and says the windshield leaks on driver side at the top and drips inside and wets the steering wheel and dashboard. The issue is that the battery light has been coming on and then the truck is dying. She had the alternator checked and then replaced because it tested bad. The truck then did the same thing a few days later with a new alternator. The O'rielly Autoparts guy actually drove to her with a new alternator and put a new one on for her. So 2 new alternators later the battery light comes on when she starts the truck. The battery gauge reads low on volts as if the alternator is bad again. She will drive it a little and then the battery gauge jumps up reads a normal voltage and the battery light goes out. It seems to go back and forth this way while she drives. When the battery light comes back on the ABS light comes on with it. Nothing else is effected and everything else works. (knock on wood) ANY IDEA?

Also she had the alternator tested again and it didn't read anything at all, as if the brand new alternator wasn't even there.

 

[hardlife]

Bad batteries can kill alternators. Also corrosion on the battery. If the corroson is bad enough it can act like there isn't even a battery in the system and the truck does a heavy draw on the alternator and will shut down. I live in PA but work in Maryland every day. I'm no mechanic but let me know if I can help.

 

[nazztman4739]

im a mechanic in WV not far from md and pa where r u located?

 

[hittmaniii]

Thanks guys I have found out that aftermarkt alternators are bad for expeditions. I had to put in a Ford alternator. All is well!!!

 

[thevalleyboy]

Want to share your knowledge of aftermarket alternators and why they are bad? Would be kinda nice to know... Best wishes man, you guys over there in Iraq/Afgan/anywhere really are the best - thank you

 

[Lane24]

Thanks guys I have found out that aftermarkt alternators are bad for expeditions. I had to put in a Ford alternator. All is well!!!

Glad you found the solution!!!!! . Interesting that you say the aftermarket ones don't work. Is this something the mechanic told your wife, or did you do some research on this yourself?

 

[sam1174]

I hope the new alternator really fixed the problem, if not, have her take a look at the cables that come off of the battery terminals. There is a big cable that runs from the battery down to the alternator. The end of the cable is soldered into a big metal ring connector that is then bolted to the battery terminal. I recently had a problem where that solder connection came loose and it wasn't making good contact in the connector. I was sure it was the alternator, but replacing the alternator didn't fix the problem. Then, while jiggling some cables, I discovered the broken solder connection.

To fix it I simply unbolted the connector from the battery and got my son to hold it while I heated it up with a torch. (He held it with big long insulated channel-locks. I didn't make him use his bare hands ) Then I just kept shoving solder into the connector until it was full. Once it cooled down I bolted it back to the battery and I haven't had a problem since.