It's one of three possible things: the first is your serpentine belt needs to be adjusted (it may be loose)--which I doubt since it's brand new, and you would have probably been alerted by a squeal in the morning when you started the car.
The second possibility is a bad crankshaft position sensor. If the computer sees a "glitch" while it's reading the crank position sensor, it will immediately shut the car down, even if you're driving. I haven't seen it happen often, though.
The third, most likely problem is your alternator IS bad and needs to be replaced. The reason your car was able to drive was it was running off your battery--the strain on the battery is probably what caused it to fail and need replacing.
For any problem, I would return the car to your mechanic and have them perform a charging system check--including a battery load test and a thorough examination of the alternator. That will let you know where your problem lies and whether or not your new battery can be saved.
Good luck! I hope this helped.
2007-02-15 15:42:53
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answer #1
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answered by bracken46 5
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Since the light comes and goes you might have a loose wire to the altenator or battery. Before you spend the money on a new one check or have someone else check the wires and connections. The Auto Zone who check your battery can check the alternator for free as well. By the way, if the battery light is coming on when you use your lights, wipers, or blower motor and is off when you don't have a load on the electrical system then it probably is the alternator. Most alternators have three diodes in them. Each diode passes a little more than 4 volts to the system. Two working diodes will provide enough juice to run the car, but not charge the battery, as long as no high drain devices are in use. I hope its just a loose connection. Good luck.
2007-02-15 15:27:08
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answer #2
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answered by Shawn M 3
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It sounds like an alternator, i have a 95 taurus and in the last two years i had to replace the alternator twice. The alternator will drain your battery so you probably didnt need to get a new battery, the battery might have been bad because of the alternator
2007-02-15 15:05:50
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answer #3
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answered by piggylover_850 4
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Yes the alternator is shot. YOur car will run without the alternator working, but only as long as the battery will hold up. As soon as the battery can no longer provide electricity for your fuel pump to run and your spark plugs to operate and computer to work, your car will die. SO replace your alternator. The battery light that comes on is telling you that the charging system(alternator) is not producing enough volts to recharge system. hope this helps
2007-02-15 15:10:46
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answer #4
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answered by schampoo2002 3
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To see if your alternator is good::::
start the car...while car is running, take the cables loose from the battery terminals. If the car dies, the alternator is bad, if not it's good.
Turn car off. put cables back on. There are two wires on one of the battery terminals. One of those wires goes to the starter....it is called a ground wire. Just follow the ground wire to the starter make sure the wires are tight if they are not the battery will not hold a charge
2007-02-15 15:18:05
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answer #5
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answered by Jennifer N 3
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Chances are your voltage regulator or alternator is bad. If you have a voltmeter, check the voltage of the battery before you start it. It should read 12V. Start the engine and while the engine is running take another measurement, it should read about 13.5V. If it doesn't then you're not getting a charge to the battery.
Take it back to your mechanic and have the alternator checked. The mechanic should have checked it before he gave you the car back. Maybe find another mechanic??????
2007-02-15 15:11:58
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answer #6
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answered by Fordman 7
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Take it back to where you got the belt installed and have them test the alternator output. If the problem is not the alternator, there could be an electrical short to ground somewhere in the vehilce, Fords are known for this.
2007-02-16 07:16:43
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answer #7
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answered by ? 4
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Time for a new alternator!
2007-02-15 15:25:53
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answer #8
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answered by Dartanion 3
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Deja Vu! Same thing with a 2001, mechanic explained belt was probably slipping, kept alternator from fully recharging battery, eventually kills alternator.
2007-02-15 15:12:36
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answer #9
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answered by Gene M 6
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check to see if wire to positive on the altenator is getting voltage b+ connection, check voltage +/_ 13.8 -14.2 volts at battery when running? but if voltage @altenator is 13.8-14.2 while running and the battery goes dead check the fuse link ,you must have this link or the battery will not charge. also the reverse is true check between the motor and the car body if there is voltage between these two different grounds (ground strap)/reinstall.
this is possible since you lost the belt-it may have been broken from the engine to the fire wall.
2007-02-15 15:22:20
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answer #10
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answered by dark_mirrors 2
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