Can you believe it, vegas has electrical issues!

[mattadams]

I know I know, its hard to believe that with various electrical components that are easily 4x that which teh altenator and battery together can handle, would have electrical problems! . Seems that my voltage guage,a lbeit a ford product, is forecasting issues. Today I'm driving home and its kinda cold... seems my voltage likes to drop down around the N or O... and when I'm stopped the lights on the interior get real dim, then I get going again, and the interior lights go again. SOunsd like it could be the altenator... but I could be wrong... so I"ll wait to see if its a temperature issue... it was only about 20 degrees but it should be able to handle it... I didn't even have any lights on!

 

[leebo]

It does sound like the alt. It sounds like both you and me both are starting to be in need of dual batteries and an upgraded alt. Sounds like a 200 amp is in store for you....

 

[Perry]

This might sound funny, but did you check the belt and make sure it is tight??
Just a thought.

 

[Rick]

Yep, start with the basics. Belt, clean battery connections, good cables etc. If all that checks out take the alternator to a shop and have them bench test it for you. If that's ok the battery may not be able to hold a full charge.

 

[mattadams]

yeah I've checked the belt, that was one of the things I could change when it was flippin cold! I always clean the battery posts and terminals when I change the oil (every 3000-4000 miles or 3-4 months...), though I have been dreading the inevitable Ford battery cable failure that likes to haunt our Explorers . Perhaps I'll stop by tonight and buy a positive cable... I hope its not the battery, it's an Optima... if it does turn out to be the altenator I'll probably try to get a 200-amp or so. I heard someone say there was a company that made a 250-amp altenator? For everyone else I'd say way overkill, but hey, I need my electricity .

 

[leebo]

Matt.....if your looking for a new alt. I would say go to Mr. Alternator.com, but for some reason I can't find the site. There are a few other sites that sell the 200amp, but I've never heard of a 250. I'm guessing though you could get one with the purchase of a portable welder. How about it???? It may also just be your battery. I was looking and if your page is up to date you're running the red top.....That can hold some power, but I doubt it can hold what you are putting it through. I'd also say go yellow top no matter what type of alt. you get....or dual?? I just love spending your money.

[Edited by leebo on 11-07-2000 at 06:56 AM]

 

[mattadams]

Originally posted by leebo
Matt.....if your looking for a new alt. I would say go to Mr. Alternator.com, but for some reason I can't find the site. There are a few other sites that sell the 200amp, but I've never heard of a 250. I'm guessing though you could get one with the purchase of a portable welder. How about it???? It may also just be your battery. I was looking and if your page is up to date you're running the red top.....That can hold some power, but I doubt it can hold what you are putting it through. I'd also say go yellow top no matter what type of alt. you get....or dual?? I just love spending your money.

[Edited by leebo on 11-07-2000 at 06:56 AM]

LOL lots of people love spending my money! Seriously though priority one is to make sure the vehicle RUNS. Once the vehicle runs I can solve issues like alignment problems, vibrations, power locks not working, doors not shutting all the way, frame damage, you know, stuff like that! .

 

[rpenner54]

Hey Matt check your cables by just looking at the red stuff and seeing if its all whitey and bubbly looking. I really dought that its your cables from the sound of it. But you never know. Specially since I killed my truck in Moab with one little start! LOL That was funny. Anyways its to cold to work on your truck for the rest of the week so you should just ignore it and drive the Saturn.

 

[Goober]

Let's see a vehicle that has 1.21 Giggawatts of power flowing to the equivalent of the suns rays having problems? Matt, you've probably ran more wire than the truck originally came with. In all seriousness, the altenator sounds like the culprit. When you give it gas and speed up the drain is coming from the battery and that's probably why the lights dim. I killed two batteries before finding this out. My alt was barely keeping the truck running and when the lights were on it was draining straight from the battery. If you have some extra cash, I can think of a few way to help you spend it too!

 

[flyguy]

speaking of battery cables... I hear thosse are a joy to install. my mechanic guy did mine and he even whined about it.

 

[leebo]

After thinking about it one of the problems I had when mine went out was the fuse. There is one under the hood that blew and caused some problems.....just a quick thought.

 

[mattadams]

yeah... I'm driving the saturn anyway, until I can somehow make the ride in the Explorer comfortable enough for a 30-mile trip to work . 1.21 gigawatts? Hardly... more like 1.12... LOL j/k. I did a brief visual inspection of the cables and they seem ok, didn't look too corroded or flaky or anything... I'm still waiting to hear back from Optima on a dual battery setup, but I'd like to get a heavy-duty altenator as well, while I'm replacing stuff

 

[FlyAU]

Originally posted by Goober
Let's see a vehicle that has 1.21 Giggawatts of power...

1.21 JIGGAWATTS?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF POWER?!?!?!?!

 

[mattadams]

Originally posted by FlyAU
1.21 JIGGAWATTS?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF POWER?!?!?!?!

[/B]

I'm givin her all shes got captain!

 

[Goober]

I can get a wee bit more out of her captain, but any more and she'll blow.....

 

[Alec]

Matt, what happens when your truck reaches 88 mph? Can it go that fast? hehehe, sorry.

BTW, you might want to check the flux capacitor, also.

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

1.21 JIGGAWATTS?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF POWER?!?!?!?!

I know where Matt can Find that kind of Power.... In the Drive way in front of my House...

Dead Link Removed

Look Closely in the background to the right.

[Edited by Kris Guilbeaux on 11-07-2000 at 12:35 PM]

 

[gijoecam]

awesome neighborhood!

Hey, Kris, I need to move to your neighborhood! I really hope you're friends with that neighbor.... A way to check if it's the alternator... when it idles and everything dims, pull off the positive cable. It should be able to stay running. If it dies, it's definately the alternator. It could, possibly run without it, but odds are if it's progressed this far, it's shot. You might get away with a 15 or 20 buck regulator... not too tough to change either. Pull it off ant have it tested. That'll tell you for sure.
-Joe-

 

[Ray Lobato]

Scotty,er I mean Matt.
Change the dilithium crystals. Dead Link Removed

 

[Kris Guilbeaux]

GI, To tell you the truth that Deloren has not ran in years (7 or 8 years). So it Would not help matt out too much.