2005 Mercury Mountaineer

[cyr3b]

New member here with little automotive experience. I have had a charging system light/alarm issue that intermittently comes on for the last year. Took my vehicle to Advance Auto Parts today and voltage meter was used to check out battery and alternator. Both checked out great. Connections were checked by technician and that was OK. Any other ideas as far as what might be the problem? This alarm is extremely annoying. Could it be a fusable link issue that may just need soldering? If so how do I fix that? Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[Number4]

If it's intermittent, then that means the issue isn't always present. You need to document the conditions leading up to an event.
Temperature outside, freeway vs street, time spent driving prior, accessory use, what accessories have been added, recently? etc... anything you can think of.
The fact that it's intermittent would make it likely that when AAP and the tech did their diagnostic, that the problem simply wasn't present at the time.

There may be multiple items that can result in that light being triggered. Research them all and note the conditions around the event when it happens. Then post back.

 

[cyr3b]

Well I checked with my wife and she states that the Check Charging System light is always on and alarms consistently. I went to get a 3rd opinion about the battery and alternator check. Both were great. So we have a great battery and alternator and a consistent alarm and light; what else could it be? To give you more information; my battery light is on and my engine light is on. Could it be a Instrument Cluster problem?

 

[cyr3b]

Hey guys, I solved it on my own. After talking to 3 garages and 1 auto parts store the problem was that there was a loose connection coming into the alternator. All I did was wiggle the connections and one connection was not fully inserted so I pushed it in all the way and PRESTO the problem is gone. Just had to let you all know that sometimes it is the simple things that we miss.

 

[Number4]

Good deal! Thanks for posting back!

 

[D Hook]

Be sure to let your wife know that YOU fixed something that three garages and an auto parts store failed to diagnose and fix properly and you should be justly rewarded.