Another charging problem

JayinNY · Sep 5, 2015

This has happened over the last month on my 2000 f250 power stroke, the battery light comes on and the needle goes almost up to 18, I tried to get a pic of it while I was driving but the light and needle stayed we're they should be. It seemed it did it at driving speed but at idle the battery light and needle stay at normal operating range. Would the altnator spike and over charge? It only does this once in a while.

Billy NY · Sep 5, 2015

Probably of no help, but I have wondered what causes this to happen. Had a little'91-'94 era Mercury Capri that did this, needle would spike, lights get brighter, then back to a normal charge. Internal voltage regulator on the alternator or what? Sounds exactly the same. Can't recall if this one was ruining batteries or something was drawing power, I put a battery disconnect blade type switch on it so it was disconnected when not in use.

Bob Bancroft · Sep 5, 2015

While it's certainly possible that an alternator putting out full power because of faulty regulation would spike voltage, I think it could also be a bad cable/connection/ground somewhere. I had a vehicle once that spiked voltage, and concurrently it acted up and wanted to quit. A new battery fixed it. Best of luck.

Janicholson · Sep 5, 2015

Cleaning up grounds and connections may make a difference. If it does not, a rebuilt with a lifetime warranty probably will.

S2710 · Sep 5, 2015

Jay I have the same truck only a 99. I have had a lot of problems with rebuilt alt. but with a lifetime warranty it is OK. The one thing to check is the eyelet that the heavy wire that hooks on to the back of the alt. If it even looks anything other then new put a new one on. After I changed mine this alt. has lasted the longest of any of them. It was a 3 dollar fix. HTH

Bob

Another charging problem

JayinNY

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Billy NY

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Bob Bancroft

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Janicholson

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S2710

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