Fix for the random check charging system alert.

[Hotsauce80]

Hey everybody, I always use this forum for my research on certain items. Its a great place for help, and I appreciate it. I may have something to offer this time. I, like many of you have that random "check charging system " alert come up. I found that I would get it more when it was wet outside. Either rain or high humidity. I always believed it to be a bad connection or ground somewhere. So after looking all over, I found something. I have a 2005 Explorer XLT RSC and below the intake and on top of the engine, usually where the coolant gathers when you get the cracked thermostat housing, is just that. Kinda fiddled with it when working on something else, and it went away. Now, its back. Guess what.. my thermostat housing is bad, losing coolant and its ponding right there where the terminal is landed. My alert had been non stop and I thought I smelled coolant. So I lifted the hood and there it was. Take a look at this if you are experiencing the nagging alarm. Bet your happy you did. Wooooohoooo!!!!

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! Take out the alternator, and have an auto parts store test it. I had this issue a few days ago, and pulled out the alternator. I removed the internal regulator which has the brush assembly bolted to it. One of the wires from an internal carbon brush was broken which caused an intermittent electrical issue. It was only transferring electricity through a small spring instead of a wire.

 

[Hotsauce80]

Tha

Welcome to this forum! Take out the alternator, and have an auto parts store test it. I had this issue a few days ago, and pulled out the alternator. I removed the internal regulator which has the brush assembly bolted to it. One of the wires from an internal carbon brush was broken which caused an intermittent electrical issue. It was only transferring electricity through a small spring instead of a wire.

Thats an option, but I have a brand new Alt. Thats what seems to be the issue. People are getting the alert, have battery and alt tested and then told everything checks out. Not saying this is the case every time, but worth looking into. Since my coolant has been leaking out and surrounding that terminal, my message center is going bat **** crazy. Just ordered my new housing and I'll post back if there are any changes.

 

[Hotsauce80]

Tha


Thats an option, but I have a brand new Alt. Thats what seems to be the issue. People are getting the alert, have battery and alt tested and then told everything checks out. Not saying this is the case every time, but worth looking into. Since my coolant has been leaking out and surrounding that terminal, my message center is going bat **** crazy. Just ordered my new housing and I'll post back if there are any changes.

No new housing yet, but I fished an extension with a drop head on my ratchet and backed the bolt out, disturbed it a little and re tightened. With coolant still surrounding it, it has not gone off once yet.

 

[Hotsauce80]

Hey everybody, I always use this forum for my research on certain items. Its a great place for help, and I appreciate it. I may have something to offer this time. I, like many of you have that random "check charging system " alert come up. I found that I would get it more when it was wet outside. Either rain or high humidity. I always believed it to be a bad connection or ground somewhere. So after looking all over, I found something. I have a 2005 Explorer XLT RSC and below the intake and on top of the engine, usually where the coolant gathers when you get the cracked thermostat housing, is just that. Kinda fiddled with it when working on something else, and it went away. Now, its back. Guess what.. my thermostat housing is bad, losing coolant and its ponding right there where the terminal is landed. My alert had been non stop and I thought I smelled coolant. So I lifted the hood and there it was. Take a look at this if you are experiencing the nagging alarm. Bet your happy you did. Wooooohoooo!!!!

Ok, so I received the new thermostat housing. I went with the Dorman unit. Complete kit, upper and lower, all seals and O rings. Thermostat in was pre-installed too. Amazon for $50 something dollars and free shipping. Easy install. Anyway, got it done. Cleaned up all the coolant around that terminal. Its been raining its ass of here and not one check charging system alert. Check it out guys, im now convinced that terminal is the birth place of that annoying alert! GO GET IT!!!!

 

[Hotsauce80]

Ok, so I received the new thermostat housing. I went with the Dorman unit. Complete kit, upper and lower, all seals and O rings. Thermostat in was pre-installed too. Amazon for $50 something dollars and free shipping. Easy install. Anyway, got it done. Cleaned up all the coolant around that terminal. Its been raining its ass of here and not one check charging system alert. Check it out guys, im now convinced that terminal is the birth place of that annoying alert! GO GET IT!!!!

Update... warning light has yet to come back.