Battery light, engine "tone"

[pepehuertars]

Hello, my wife took our 96 explorer today, she left the lights on for more than an hour but the car started without a problem. But on the way back home she noticed the battery light ON. On arrival, I notice the light of course but also a different sound on the engine tone at idle... like struggling a bit to keep running.

Forscan doesn't show any codes, running the multimeter at the battery posts KOEO shows 12.7v, KOER 13,4v at idle, and 13,6v from the alternator post at idle.

I'm currently charging the battery with a 1amp trickle charger to see if it's something related with the battery, but the new engine tone threw me off. Can it be related with something else?

I'll post an update when the battery is fully charged.
Thank you.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Hello, my wife took our 96 explorer today, she left the lights on for more than an hour but the car started without a problem. But on the way back home she noticed the battery light ON. On arrival, I notice the light of course but also a different sound on the engine tone at idle... like struggling a bit to keep running.

Forscan doesn't show any codes, running the multimeter at the battery posts KOEO shows 12.7v, KOER 13,4v at idle, and 13,6v from the alternator post at idle.

I'm currently charging the battery with a 1amp trickle charger to see if it's something related with the battery, but the new engine tone threw me off. Can it be related with something else?

I'll post an update when the battery is fully charged.
Thank you.

i wonder does the alt spin freely still? i wonder if its increased load on motor.

 

[pepehuertars]

Wil check the pulley once I get the battery ready. Thanks

 

[pepehuertars]

So, after the battery got fully charged (took 20 hours at 1 amp), the battery light turned off and the car started and regain it's regular 'tone'. I didn't know that the battery light also signals battery problems, used to be only alternator. I wonder if the battery was so low that the PCM started to think that it wasn't charging. A battery tester also showed that the battery was charging correctly but too low to accurately test it.

 

[donalds]

I believe that you're alternator was working fine it was just working overtime to charge the dead battery and power your vehicle after charging it everything is normal use a multimeter to check to see if you're charging system is good
then drive it
My son's car does this kind of sounds like a airplane with a muffler

 

[pepehuertars]

well, I was resting in my laurels too early. The battery light came back, the engine tone is normal tho, but the light stay on. It flickers a bit when revving up to 2500 rpm, but just a tiny bit. Multimeter and battery tester both shows good charging (14.6v) at the battery post and at the alternator post. Where to next?

 

[donalds]

I Would be removing that alternator and having a tested

 

[pepehuertars]

I Would be removing that alternator and having a tested

Well... I took the alternator to a shop. They told me that the voltage regulator was failing, and also one of the brushes was broke.
Now I'm searching for options to fix it, since I can't find a OE replacement around here

 

[donalds]

Well... I took the alternator to a shop. They told me that the voltage regulator was failing, and also one of the brushes was broke.
Now I'm searching for options to fix it, since I can't find a OE replacement around here

Rebuilder in a box

∆∆∆∆∆
Which engine do u have

 

[pepehuertars]

Rebuilder in a box

∆∆∆∆∆
Which engine do u have

4.0 OHV

 

[pepehuertars]

Rebuilder in a box

∆∆∆∆∆
Which engine do u have

I forgot something important: I live in the chilean Patagonia ... it's difficult here to get things like OE parts

 

[J_C]

I would google search "alternator rebuilder near me"

 

[donalds]

I suggest you send them an email

 

[pepehuertars]

I suggest you send them an email

Thank you very much!