Help!! Stranded and X wont start

[Explorer94GV]

My Xplorer will not even click over. I have narrowed it down to either the starter or the altenator. How can i check what amps im getting out of my altenator. I highly doubt its the battery. Oh and last night right as i pull into my garage all of my electronics cutted out ie. the stereo,amps,interior lights,and the beeps went off. It worked fine this morning and now im am here stranded on in the woods at a friends house. Help is needed thxs.

 

[410Fortune]

Check your battery terminal connections first..........

Do you get any lights at all when you turn the key? Does the fule pump come on?

 

[Fischer]

PARK??

I remember my friend letting me charge him up for like a half hour and nothing. I got in and the damn thing was in Drive. Put it in park and vrroommmm. I gave him some flack for being an ass...

Sounds like a ground problem. Is the battery grounded to the frame well?

 

[dogfriend]

You won't get any amps (current) out of the alternator if you can't get it started

Check voltage at the battery; if it drops below ~ 10.5 volts you won't have enough to supply the computer, therefore it won't start. I had this happen more than once with the Ranger that I used to have. It you do have > 11 volts, then I would look for loose connections, etc.

Also, you can jumper the starter solenoid (located on the fender, positive cable goes to it from battery). I had this fail on me before due to corrosion (I wasn't driving it very often).

Good luck

 

[mattadams]

sounds possibly like battery cable issue.

 

[aldive]

What voltage are you reading at the battery?

 

[Explorer94GV]

Well im positive its the altenator we jumped it and it ran but i could not run anything at all. Its not even recharging the battery and the battery is no more than 1 month old. Time to order a new 200amp altenator. BTW how do i read the volts from the altenator. Can i use a voltmeter?

 

[jeremism30]

USE YOUR FINGER.

JK

SORRY DON'T KNOW.

 

[liquidx9]

tongue? sorry, no idea, couldnt resist, how old is the alternator.. and youve got a ton of stuff in there, you havent been running it with the engine off have you??

 

[Explorer94GV]

its a 94' and it looks to be the orignal one. I would occasionally have it off and run. It is just old and i was pro longing get a new one until i needed one.

 

[liquidx9]

well, the solutions fairly simple then... dont run your system with the engine off... youll kill your battery and your alternator

 

[Explorer94GV]

That wasnt the problem. The problem was that it was just old and worn out. I didnt have it full volume while off anyways and I dont have my Strokers hooked up it was just running door speakers. I could tell it was going out because when i would close the windows the battery needle would flucate bad and than would make a distorted noise in speakers. It got so bad the power locks cant even close or open now and the passenger window wouldnt even roll up. **** it had to come soon glad it did when i had the money

 

[liquidx9]

at least you were at a friends house and not in an obscure parking lot, look at it that way