thebrakeman
Explorer Addict
- Joined
- February 11, 2009
- Messages
- 1,208
- Reaction score
- 40
- City, State
- Canton, Michigan
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2006 Mercury Mountaineer
Long story, but want to give you everything I've checked, and conditions:
2006 Mounty with 109,000 miles. My wife is the primary driver.
She let me know a few weeks ago that she was getting a Charging System error in the Info Display. I have seen it once or twice since then, although whenever I had a chance to check voltage, it was always fine.
Took it to Advance Auto to get the battery and alternator checked. (The 84-month 850CCA battery was purchased at Adv.Auto Nov 2010). The guy took some general voltage readings (fine), then hooked it up to the gadget. CC amps was in the high 700s and was charging fine, and the alternator checked out.
This past week, my wife was coming home, and she said she lost all instrument panel lights and instruments, as well as window/lock control. Basically all non-essential assessories were gone, but the vehicle continue driving fine and got her home without issue. I'm guessing this is some sort of limp-home mode, to conserve energy, when the system senses that something is very wrong.
That evening, I checked the battery, and it was dead...under 12volts. I jumped it from my car. After disconnecting jumper cables, alternator output was 13.5volts. Every time the truck has been running the next day or 2, alternator was the same, until this morning. I let it run for a good while, drove it around for 15 minutes to let charge. After a couple of hours (off), charge was 12.5V.
This morning, battery was down to around 12.2 volts. I took off the battery cover, and was surprised to see access plates to check the water. I thought this was maintenance free. Anyway, popped them off. First 3 holes were good, next 2 were a little low (right at the top of plates), and the 6th was below a plate. I topped them all off with distilled water. Truck started fine, althought I noticed the alternator was now putting out 14.4volts. Went to Kroger this morning. 15minutes later started fine again and got to work. 4 hours later (right now), resting battery voltage is 12.3volts, which seems a bit low to me.
I'm going to keep driving this all week at least. Could that low water have been the problem? Alternator seems to be fine, but I don't know why the truck would have gone into bonkers mode unless the alternator wasn't putting out. Do alternators usually die quickly, or do they start out with intermittent issues?
2006 Mounty with 109,000 miles. My wife is the primary driver.
She let me know a few weeks ago that she was getting a Charging System error in the Info Display. I have seen it once or twice since then, although whenever I had a chance to check voltage, it was always fine.
Took it to Advance Auto to get the battery and alternator checked. (The 84-month 850CCA battery was purchased at Adv.Auto Nov 2010). The guy took some general voltage readings (fine), then hooked it up to the gadget. CC amps was in the high 700s and was charging fine, and the alternator checked out.
This past week, my wife was coming home, and she said she lost all instrument panel lights and instruments, as well as window/lock control. Basically all non-essential assessories were gone, but the vehicle continue driving fine and got her home without issue. I'm guessing this is some sort of limp-home mode, to conserve energy, when the system senses that something is very wrong.
That evening, I checked the battery, and it was dead...under 12volts. I jumped it from my car. After disconnecting jumper cables, alternator output was 13.5volts. Every time the truck has been running the next day or 2, alternator was the same, until this morning. I let it run for a good while, drove it around for 15 minutes to let charge. After a couple of hours (off), charge was 12.5V.
This morning, battery was down to around 12.2 volts. I took off the battery cover, and was surprised to see access plates to check the water. I thought this was maintenance free. Anyway, popped them off. First 3 holes were good, next 2 were a little low (right at the top of plates), and the 6th was below a plate. I topped them all off with distilled water. Truck started fine, althought I noticed the alternator was now putting out 14.4volts. Went to Kroger this morning. 15minutes later started fine again and got to work. 4 hours later (right now), resting battery voltage is 12.3volts, which seems a bit low to me.
I'm going to keep driving this all week at least. Could that low water have been the problem? Alternator seems to be fine, but I don't know why the truck would have gone into bonkers mode unless the alternator wasn't putting out. Do alternators usually die quickly, or do they start out with intermittent issues?
