Fooled me the first time making me think I was having an alternator failure. So convincing the first time, that the car began to show symptoms of the battery being totally drained. Such as...while driving, the car spat and sputtered until I turned off the lights. When I did turn off the lights, it ran well enough to get me home. Thank goodness...
After getting home, the battery had totally died; reaffirming my beliefs. Ordered and changed to a rebuilt alternator (new casing) from Bill J and the Team Ford crew. The replacement install went well; so, I assume the rebuilt job is in place as it should be. My mechanic ace and I even did a voltage test on the battery to ensure the rebuilt was working as it should. The reading showed almost approx 14 volts. We completed this almost four weeks ago.
Not until this evening first I notice the RPM's are hovering around 500 while sitting at idle in a parking lot; unusually low for my car, as I normally see the needle above 750. I mash the peddle and the needle returns to the 500 range but continues to idle, quietly. I figure, as long as its running, maybe its just an anomoly for now.
Drive around a bit, and viola, there's the flickering battery light again; just like a month ago. An additional indicator, the ABS light begins to flicker as well. The car is still running, but within 5 minutes the RPM needle goes dead. To keep the injectors running so the car can continue, I turn off the headlights, with just the fog lights on (its dark outside), and the RPM needle returns. So I figure I'm back on the same issue which caused me to change the alternator the first time. But, I wonder is it possible the new (rebuilt) alternator is failing just like the first? Could it be some other electrical (wiring) problem associated with the alternator or preventing it from doing its job? Fuse, junction, wiring?
So, I'm here gents, begging for assistance again. Many thanks in advance for any viable suggestions.
Regards,
DT
1995, 2.5 Dura, MTX, creeping up on 84K miles
After getting home, the battery had totally died; reaffirming my beliefs. Ordered and changed to a rebuilt alternator (new casing) from Bill J and the Team Ford crew. The replacement install went well; so, I assume the rebuilt job is in place as it should be. My mechanic ace and I even did a voltage test on the battery to ensure the rebuilt was working as it should. The reading showed almost approx 14 volts. We completed this almost four weeks ago.
Not until this evening first I notice the RPM's are hovering around 500 while sitting at idle in a parking lot; unusually low for my car, as I normally see the needle above 750. I mash the peddle and the needle returns to the 500 range but continues to idle, quietly. I figure, as long as its running, maybe its just an anomoly for now.
Drive around a bit, and viola, there's the flickering battery light again; just like a month ago. An additional indicator, the ABS light begins to flicker as well. The car is still running, but within 5 minutes the RPM needle goes dead. To keep the injectors running so the car can continue, I turn off the headlights, with just the fog lights on (its dark outside), and the RPM needle returns. So I figure I'm back on the same issue which caused me to change the alternator the first time. But, I wonder is it possible the new (rebuilt) alternator is failing just like the first? Could it be some other electrical (wiring) problem associated with the alternator or preventing it from doing its job? Fuse, junction, wiring?
So, I'm here gents, begging for assistance again. Many thanks in advance for any viable suggestions.
Regards,
DT
1995, 2.5 Dura, MTX, creeping up on 84K miles