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Problem:
After starting the car, the "battery" light stays on, indicating some kind of charging system abnormality. As you drive, the light flickers oh-so-slightly the whole time. If you rev the engine, the light will completely turn off after a certain RPM is reached (what RPM that is, I don't know. I don't have a tach). The light becomes dim, but is still on.
I had a charging system diagnostic done at a local parts store and it was confirmed that there was 0 charging voltage detected. It was suggested that there may be a loose wire on the alternator.
What are the odds that there actually is a loose wire? Wouldn't a lose wire with sparatic contact at least make that 0v on the charging line fluctuate a little?
92 Talon TSi AWD
DSM= Daily Scheduled Maintenence
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 340
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
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Originally posted by Jason732:
Problem:
After starting the car, the "battery" light stays on, indicating some kind of charging system abnormality. As you drive, the light flickers oh-so-slightly the whole time. If you rev the engine, the light will completely turn off after a certain RPM is reached (what RPM that is, I don't know. I don't have a tach). The light becomes dim, but is still on.
I had a charging system diagnostic done at a local parts store and it was confirmed that there was 0 charging voltage detected. It was suggested that there may be a loose wire on the alternator.
What are the odds that there actually is a loose wire? Wouldn't a lose wire with sparatic contact at least make that 0v on the charging line fluctuate a little?
Not too likely...maybe a damaged wire/damaged post due to being loose and/or overtightened at one time.
Inspect it. If it looks OK, you probably just need to start thinking about having the alternator replaced.
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Joined: May 2000
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Hard-core CEG'er
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good advice but you dont have to quote the guy who started the thread if you are the first to respond.
Oo (xxx)oO
o xxxxxxxx o
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LOL. Nah, sometimes it happens that while you are replying somebody already posted something...
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New CEG\'er
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I had a similar problem on my 96 Contour. I lost my alternator. I put a rebuilt on, but my charging light still came on, and my battery was not dead because I had charged it prior. It still wasnt charging. Come to find out there is a 175amp fuse located under the throttle body. It connects the Live charging wire to the positive battery terminal. I went to ford got one for 6 bucks, unscred the 2 screws that hold the moisture cover on and changed the fuse. Light went out, battery was charging. I do not know what made the fuse blow but you may want to check that first.....
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If you are driving around, and are below 13 volts, something is wrong. Try to hook up a voltmeter to your cigarette lighter socket. If the voltage hovers around 12 volts but then suddenly jumps up around 16 when you rev it, something is loose.
Ususally alternators die altogether and don't become intermittent. Also, if the small stator/regulator wire is loose, it would cause these problems.
HTH,
BP
Ben ---'96 Contour GL * Zetec ATX * Tan on Black steelies---
+++JRSC M62 Under Construction+++
My big-a$$ mod list. 
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Joined: May 2003
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Originally posted by ButtonPuncher:
Ususally alternators die altogether and don't become intermittent.
Ditto. Alternator probs are usually falling into a 'sudden death' cattegory.
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Well, after careful inspection, it looks like the wires are all in excellent shape. Not really even dirty, let alone damaged or frayed. It looks like I'll be doing an alternator swap this weekend...
92 Talon TSi AWD
DSM= Daily Scheduled Maintenence
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Ok, now that I have replace the alternator, the symptoms have changed. Now when you start the car, the light comes on very dim, then as the RMPs increase, so does the brightness of the light. I went back to the same place that I had it tested before and now the battery voltage is 12.25 and it still indicates that there is no charging voltage. I only checked the wiring that was at the alternator end, and I don't know where it comes out on the other side (other than the fact that it connects to the battery). Is it a possibility that in conjunction with the other alternater acting up or failing, that a wire could also be bad? Any thoughts?
92 Talon TSi AWD
DSM= Daily Scheduled Maintenence
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 205
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Originally posted by TravisW:
... Come to find out there is a 175amp fuse located under the throttle body. It connects the Live charging wire to the positive battery terminal...
I just pulled that fuse and it looks like someone hit it with a hammer or something, it's broken into about 4 pieces. I can't tell if it blew from electical influance or physical damage, but it's bad now. I can't get to the dealer until monday, so we'll see what happens next week...
92 Talon TSi AWD
DSM= Daily Scheduled Maintenence
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