Frosty
Hard-core CEG'er
Ok guys, haven't asked for much help here over the years, but I could really use some now. I've been having a charging voltage problem for the last couple years with my SVT and it has not been driven the majority of that time because of this issue. I am getting to the end of my patience with this problem and I am running out of things to try. I don't normally give up on things, but I am just about ready to give up on this car and move on. Here is the issue:
Alt went bad a couple years ago. Replaced with a off-brand reman that was nearly new out of a parts car. Could sometimes get it to charge at 14 if I wiggled the gray connector at the alternator, but pretty much stayed at 12v or so. Got a new gray connector from Ford and spliced it in so it fit snugly. Would sometimes charge at 13V+, but not for long. Inspected/cleaned mega fuse, all terminals, all grounds I could find. Wouldn't charge above 13V. Noticed the wiring from the pos to the engine bay fuse panel had cracked insulation. Replaced that with a new harness from Sam. No change in voltage. Did some more research and found that off-brand alternators can cause issues. Went and got a motorcraft reman alternator. No change in charging voltage. The battery tests out fine as well. Have not been able to get it to charge at more than 13V for quite some time now. Someone suggested the dimming lights mod for the alt. Should I try that? I don't want to hack up the harness if I don't have to. The only other option I have left is to take it to a friends shop to have him test it out. Almost every other shop won't touch it because it's "Modified" or they want to way over-charge me because of that. If I cut up the harness for the Dimming lights mod and it doesn't work, I'm afraid no one will touch it or they will point to that right away. Any other thoughts/advice?
Alt went bad a couple years ago. Replaced with a off-brand reman that was nearly new out of a parts car. Could sometimes get it to charge at 14 if I wiggled the gray connector at the alternator, but pretty much stayed at 12v or so. Got a new gray connector from Ford and spliced it in so it fit snugly. Would sometimes charge at 13V+, but not for long. Inspected/cleaned mega fuse, all terminals, all grounds I could find. Wouldn't charge above 13V. Noticed the wiring from the pos to the engine bay fuse panel had cracked insulation. Replaced that with a new harness from Sam. No change in voltage. Did some more research and found that off-brand alternators can cause issues. Went and got a motorcraft reman alternator. No change in charging voltage. The battery tests out fine as well. Have not been able to get it to charge at more than 13V for quite some time now. Someone suggested the dimming lights mod for the alt. Should I try that? I don't want to hack up the harness if I don't have to. The only other option I have left is to take it to a friends shop to have him test it out. Almost every other shop won't touch it because it's "Modified" or they want to way over-charge me because of that. If I cut up the harness for the Dimming lights mod and it doesn't work, I'm afraid no one will touch it or they will point to that right away. Any other thoughts/advice?