Lost battery power while driving.. Now won't start

[Lane24]

Any of you have any ideas? I drove to work for a meeting tonite. Everything was fine. Got out 4 hours later, and my battery light was flickering after I started her up. On the way home with every time I hit the brake, or signaled, the panel lights got dimmer and dimmer. Now It's in my driveway, and won't start.. even after trying to boost it.
Any suggestions on something to check tomorrow in the daylight. I tightened the battery connections. It has power enough to run the interior lights when I open the door, but not enough to crank it. Just get the awful machine gun sound when I turn the ignition.

I could use a suggestion on where to start in the daylight.

 

[alaskanexpy]

my shot in the dark would be your alternator went, then killed the battery.

get the alternator tested, and charge the battery..if its older just replace.

 

[Lane24]

I'm hoping battery. Damn thing won't start, so I don't know how I am gonna go get the alternator tested. I'll try jumping it again in the morning I guess.

 

[alaskanexpy]

thats why i have so many trucks, issue with one take another lol

your lights dimming is a pretty good give away that the alternator was not working.

 

[Lane24]

Well, I have a brand new Wrangler i can drive too, but I want to fix this one.... I assume I can take the alternator off and go get it tested...... Can they do that? Or does it have to be on the vehicle..

 

[mindgame]

alternator... Steady loss of power, things getting dimmer...

 

[99 Expy]

Ya, they can test them at most parts stores. Take it in and a few minutes later they can give you the verdict. I know mine is on alternator number 3 since its been in the family.

 

[panda24619]

mine just did this. i was getting 12 volts one night. lights were dim. these ford G3 alternators WILL drain your battery if they are bad. this is my 3rd alt. i have lifetime warranty on mine. it was $200+ for the alt but it was worth every penny. get a new one every time this one goes out. so screw it more lights!!!!

super easy to get out as well... kinda. the pain is the breaker bar on the idler arm. want some pics lemme know.

heres my step by step, if i forgot any lemme know.

1. disconnect battery.
2. move intake out of the way. i just removed the part that goes to the tb and bent it towards my driver side.
3. breaker bar or old torque wrench like i used on idler arm. its a pain to get it on so take your time with it. dont want to bend a fan blade.
4. remove belt on top of alt. i just let mine hang. (inspect belt while your at it. good time to replace it if needed.)
5. remove the top screw on the alt thats for power to the battery. 10mm if i remember.
6. remove top 3 screws and bracket holding the alt to the block. 10mm i think as well.
7. remove bottom 2 screws holding alt to block. 10mm.
8. remove the 2 connectors to the alt.
9. take alt out.
10. go get it tested. its free. (mine was so dead an error popped up that they have never seen before.)

putting new one in.
1. connect connectors to alt.
2. lightly screw on the bottom 2 bolts to get the alt in place.
3. lightly screw on the 3 bolts with bracket to get the alt in place.
4. tighten all screws. (idk torque specs but i also dont have a trq wrench that small.)
5. place cable from alt to battery back on. tighten.
6. push the idler arm towards the driver side and put new/old belt on. (this is a pain cause the belt always seem to slip off other pullys.)
7. take out breaker bar/torque wrench. (i found it easier to get a pair of pliers and wedge it in between the bar/wrench and idler arm and squeeze. it should slide out that way.)
8. place intake tube back on.
9. battery terminal back on.

you should be good to go. also i think all bolts are 10mm but i could be wrong. ford seems to like 10mm for its bolts. you need pics lemme know.

 

[panda24619]

new vs old


the two bottom bolts.


how i barely got it on. (thats what she said.) but when i was trying to get it out it went all the way in. (again, thats what she said.)


you can see. no room to move when taking it off. thats why i good pair of pliers and squeezing it off will work better then trying to muscle it off.


tb with intake moved out of the way.

 

[tsingson]

I agree with the panel. It sounds like the alternator is gone.

 

[GAINMOB]

LANE...thats what happened to me...its your alt...i knew mine was "going" bad...but tried to push it a day too long and my luck ran out...it ras sitting while running at my job...then i didnt hear my system anymore...went to truck...wouldnt start...got jump'd and couldnt do anything..i.e roll windows down...use locks...so had to hook back up to vehicle to roll windows up...

bad alt and it drained your battery...my battery check'd out after a charge but i think im going to replace it...perfect reason to get the dual battery setup...

 

[Lane24]

Thanks everybody!!! Great write up Panda. It's my trucks 5 year anniversary today, so it wanted a present I guess.

 

[Lane24]

Just went and talked to a buddy whose a parts manager at a Case- International Tractor dealership in town, and hes getting me one for $130. I just have to bring my old one in for the core. Not a bad deal. NAPA wanted $299, and I refuse to go to our local Ford dealer. One of those 4 times bitten twice shy deals. Ironically the Case dealership is owned by the same people that own the Ford dealership, but it's the principal. lol.

 

[walnuts4x4]

wow... i remember when my f150 did the same thing and changing alternator on a 97 with 38s was a pain by myself....

 

[99 Expy]

Hope you get her all put back together and running good again.

LANE...thats what happened to me...its your alt...i knew mine was "going" bad...but tried to push it a day too long and my luck ran out...it ras sitting while running at my job...then i didnt hear my system anymore...went to truck...wouldnt start...got jump'd and couldnt do anything..i.e roll windows down...use locks...so had to hook back up to vehicle to roll windows up...

bad alt and it drained your battery...my battery check'd out after a charge but i think im going to replace it...perfect reason to get the dual battery setup...

The last time mine went out, my mom was in Kansas City, MO on her way back from my cousins graduation, and it went out. It was Sunday night and all the parts stores were closed, so me and my dad decided to go down and bring it back. 12 hours later, the expy was at home, and I got to turn around to go to an ethanol plant shutdown to work 8 days straight of 14 hour days...

 

[Lane24]

Super Double Thanks to Panda for the little write up. Saved me tons of time trying to figure everything out for myself!!! Just having a place to start with the wrench sizes and everything was great. Got it out in 15 minutes or less. Hopefully the new one will go in as easy when it arrives.

Panda, you should cut and paste your info and put this in the 'how to' area. Will help a lot of people.

 

[Lane24]

Got the new alternator in at the tractor shop this morning, and the wife gave me a hand installing it, took about 20 minutes and all is well!!! Runs like a top. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[panda24619]

did you have to use pliers to get the breaker bar off?

 

[Lane24]

Nope, just wiggle wiggle wiggle. That tension pulley sure is waaaaaay down there when you have a body lift. I feel like a midget ( Little person whatever) when I have to do any thing under the hood on this thing. I have a folding chair on stand by to get up there.

 

[tsingson]

Good to hear man!