roughrider17
Active Member
- Joined
- October 7, 2013
- Messages
- 66
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Ontario, Canada
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2002 Sport Trac
While back i posted a little note about my charging system and was recommended to take it to a shop to have it rebuilt however i am 19 years old going through college so id like to be SURE before i do anything first...
So here are my problems thus far:
Ive recently installed a pioneer double DIN radio along with 4 pioneer door speakers and a 400 watt sub-woofer and amp.
Frequently, when i come to a stop at a light or sign, my RPM's would drop to around 500, and the alternator would click on (or it might be the voltage regulator) and it would bring it back up.
Now today a new thing occurred, i was travelling at around 95 KPH which translated to around 2100 RPM's on the phone through my radio and when i hung up and my music came back on my truck seemed to surge, the RPM's quickly dipped down to 1900 or so then shot back up to 2100.
Now once i got home i took a multimeter and made some measurements, i know it isnt the battery as it read 12.57 V with no load
When i put my ST under full load at around 1500 RPM's the alternator was going off like mad every 20 seconds or so maybe even less and the voltage went from around 13.20 to 12.97 on the battery.
small side note, when the RPM's noticeably dipped down, a gear of sorts clicked on, on the drivers side engine bay close to the battery, what the heck is that?
Next i ran a test to check out the grounding system , i put the positive lead on the ground side of the battery and touched the casing of the alternator and it read .07-.08 which TBH im not sure if that is within reason or not... but i hope so.
Anyways, question time.
First of all, does a 2002 ST have an external voltage regulator that would be easy to switch out to rule that out ?
Next, what should a stock ST alternator be putting out normally?
Finally, should i still go ahead with a rebuild of the alternator for higher output? or should i get a brand new higher output alternator and throw it in myself?
Thanks so much guys ! youre always such a huge help to me, in my long learning process!
So here are my problems thus far:
Ive recently installed a pioneer double DIN radio along with 4 pioneer door speakers and a 400 watt sub-woofer and amp.
Frequently, when i come to a stop at a light or sign, my RPM's would drop to around 500, and the alternator would click on (or it might be the voltage regulator) and it would bring it back up.
Now today a new thing occurred, i was travelling at around 95 KPH which translated to around 2100 RPM's on the phone through my radio and when i hung up and my music came back on my truck seemed to surge, the RPM's quickly dipped down to 1900 or so then shot back up to 2100.
Now once i got home i took a multimeter and made some measurements, i know it isnt the battery as it read 12.57 V with no load
When i put my ST under full load at around 1500 RPM's the alternator was going off like mad every 20 seconds or so maybe even less and the voltage went from around 13.20 to 12.97 on the battery.
small side note, when the RPM's noticeably dipped down, a gear of sorts clicked on, on the drivers side engine bay close to the battery, what the heck is that?
Next i ran a test to check out the grounding system , i put the positive lead on the ground side of the battery and touched the casing of the alternator and it read .07-.08 which TBH im not sure if that is within reason or not... but i hope so.
Anyways, question time.
First of all, does a 2002 ST have an external voltage regulator that would be easy to switch out to rule that out ?
Next, what should a stock ST alternator be putting out normally?
Finally, should i still go ahead with a rebuild of the alternator for higher output? or should i get a brand new higher output alternator and throw it in myself?
Thanks so much guys ! youre always such a huge help to me, in my long learning process!