I have a Ford Explorer. My battery is 3 years old and I put a new altenator in last year. Today after picking up dinner I was driving and came to a stop sign, my battery gage began to decline to the L (low) end. My truck did not stall. While I am driving the gage is at its regular spot. However when I stop, not putting it into park, and my Air conditioner is running the battery goes down to very low. It never used to do this. Could it be that my altenator is going? Is my gage not working properly. I know that the AC takes up more power, but it has never done this in the 5 yrs of owning it. I am suppose to drive with my vehicle on vacation, but now need to figure out what is the matter with it. A friend has a valometer and is going to hook it up and see what the alternator and battery is putting out. Please HELP!!!
2006-08-05 16:14:06 · 11 answers · asked by njrover2162000 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
1) I don't know what a "valometer" is. Perhaps Volt-ohm meter?
2) I don't think you have a problem. As hot as it has been, the compressor on your air-conditioner is running nearly all the time.
So when you are at an idle, you have a large demand on the electrics and the alternator is turning at a slow rpm.
Don't create a problem where one does not exist.
It is hot your air-conditioner and electrical systems are working hard to keep up. When the temperature outside cools down you will be back to normal.
If you want to blow some money, get a smaller pulley for the alternator, it will turn faster at idle and charge more.
I would just leave it alone. You don't have a problem.
Yours; Grumpy
2006-08-05 16:56:36 · answer #1 · answered by Grumpy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quick ck for the battery: put your hand on the side of the batt and if hot to the touch it has an internal short, have it verified by a batt load test.
Have the alt checked under a load, even new ones fail. Clean the batt cables and posts, corrosion of any kind create resistance and retards the ability to charge or operate the system.
Also could be the volt regulator in the dash gage but less likely.
2006-08-05 16:37:05 · answer #2 · answered by hithere2ya 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is blowing cold air and the room is very cold then the thermostat may be broken, but it could also be the contacts of the compressor relay have frozen / welded shut. The damaged / broken parts would require replacing. If the outside temperature is excessively hot it could be that the unit is working to it's maximum. Not a lot you can do in this case. The outside fins of the condenser could be blocked with dust / debris and require cleaning. The unit may have a refrigerant leak in which case the leak has to be found, repaired and the unit topped up with refrigerant or the whole charge to be replaced. The thermostat may be set too low, - adjust the thermostat.
2016-03-27 00:38:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had this problem with a Ford Mustang a few years ago and after buying a new battery and alternator I discovered that the fan belt was slipping. I had also replaced the fan belts, but the cheap 3rd party ones I bought didn't fit right. I had to get another factory one from Ford to fix the problem. Good Luck!
2006-08-05 16:19:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You may have put the wrong alternator in your truck or it is going bad. You may want to check the voltage with yoru friend but make sure your in gear on the brake with A/C on and see if it goes down below 13volts if it does it is the alternatoryou make need to replace it again and double check that the one you are putting in is for your vehicle with the A/C like I was saying there may be 2 - 3 different alternators with different amp ratings for your vehicle..
Good Luck
2006-08-05 17:15:02 · answer #5 · answered by B P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take it to a battery shop and have them check the battery and altenator. You might have a bad cell in the battery or the altenator my be going out again.
2006-08-05 16:17:00 · answer #6 · answered by Biker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could have a bad alternator!! I have purchased items brand new for vehicles and installed them to find that they were bad!! Or it may be your battery!! You can have your battery checked!!
2006-08-05 16:17:17 · answer #7 · answered by dustyskylark68 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
could be a defective alternator, bad battery, or you battery cables are corroded
2006-08-05 16:19:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to have everything tested at a shop (Bat. Alt. thats about it), anything else that we say, is purely speculation
2006-08-05 16:19:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the Gage is busted
2006-08-05 16:16:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋