It is a 1984 Ford F-100 w/ a 1976 300ci straight 6 engine and automatic transmission. It has one owner since new and appears to have been well maintained visually it is in excellent condition and mechanically is good other than the battery not charging. I need all possible causes to decide whether or not I should buy this truck for $800 and fix it.
2006-08-26 20:17:02 · 13 answers · asked by johnnyrebel1982 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
There aren't that many things that can cause your battery not to charge. First of all, remove the battery and have it tested. If it tests good, the remove the alternator and regulator and have then checked, (the regulator should be near the battery, it's a black or chrome box with a 4 prong flat plastic connector.) If those are good, then you have a fusible link burned out. If the alternator is bad, you can pick up a remanned one for probably less then $40.00. Don't bother getting one at a dealer. They will push a reman on you and tell you it is new, and you only get a 90 day warranty out of it. If you want to spring for a new one, then count on paying at least $150.00 for it. They don't really last any longer then a remanufactured one. A regulator shouldn't cost you more then $20.00 if yours tests bad. As for finding the fusible link, good luck. Those are a royal pain. You might also check the wiring to the alternator and regulator. I once fixed an early Ford alternator by plugging in the orange push on connector on the back of the alternator. A have fixed at least 5 by just pushing in the connector all the way into the regulator.
2006-08-26 21:01:10 · answer #1 · answered by Thomas S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's your ALTERNATOR.
You'll need to replace it and be sure the mechanic recharges
your old battery or even better, replaces it since some of the
cells may no longer be able to become fully charged now.
What is the Alternator?
http://www.misterfixit.com/alterntr.htm
How to check if I have a failed Alternator:
You need a Voltmeter.
Here's what you do - start the car, make sure all the accessories are off and rev up the motor to a fast idle. Set the Voltmeter to the DC scale (not AC or Ohms). Measure the voltage across the battery terminals - red lead of the voltmeter on the positive terminal, black on the negative (ground in most cars). The voltage should, and probably will, read around 14 volts. If it reads less than 12 volts you may indeed have a failed alternator
For a mechanic to replace your Alternator expect to pay about $350.00 + battery charge or new battery.
You might pick up an Alternator at an Auto Supply store for around $150.00 (DO NOT GET A USED ONE - MUST BE NEW)
2006-08-26 20:35:06 · answer #2 · answered by GeneL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 2 possiblities. One is simply due to the fact that the battery is bad. The other possiblitiy is due to faulty the charging mechanism of the Engine. If the cause is due to the later, the cost to fix it is very high what I understood. Try removing the existing battery and charge it using a portable charger. If it can be charged, then the cause will be due to faulty Engine Charging mechanism. Hope it helps.
2006-08-26 20:27:07 · answer #3 · answered by Choo C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That truck has a voltage regulator on the side or by the fire wall you might want to start with that also go and get the battery check out battery only last 2-4 years max.
2006-08-26 20:31:12 · answer #4 · answered by ( tito ) 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It could be a number of things- the simpliest being a bad wire or ground or even a fuse (but then the truck wouldn't start, either). I would lean to a bad alternator and that is not the case then the regulator/rectifier could be to blame. In all it shouldn't be more than $300 to repair.
2006-08-26 20:23:17 · answer #5 · answered by yazukka 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1.old battery loss of cells from ware 2 the genarator 3 the alternator
2006-08-26 20:27:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
battery could be cracked, one of the poles could actually be broken away inside, your alternator or something could be grounding out , we had a truck that ate up one battery after another, the horn fused and was always on though it made no noise, and it drained 3 batteries before it was figured out.
2006-08-26 20:38:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check the alternator and the belt.
2006-08-26 20:38:20 · answer #8 · answered by Ironball 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The alternator might be dead.Or you check generator belt.
2006-08-26 23:25:06 · answer #9 · answered by Ben A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there wont be much wrong,a coupla hundred dollars will fix even if alternator cooked,sounds like a good deal to me.
2006-08-26 21:12:50 · answer #10 · answered by frank m 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋