Electrical issue, maybe alternator?

[koda6966]

I was driving to work to day in my car (2000 zx2) and my battery light came on, then flickered a bit. As I was driving all lights in my car got dimmer and dimmer until everything, and I mean everything, electrical stopped working. I had no lights, no turn signals, my speedo/trouble lights weren't even working. The car kept running until I got to work. (maybe a minutes drive from where everything shut down) I got out of the car, popped my trunk, and noticed that my trunk light was on. I started it up and it started fine. Battery light is still on.

I got a different battery out of my truck since I thought it might have been the problem. Nope, battery light is still on.

It turns off/flickers when my car is idling, but turns on when I rev the engine or when I'm moving, if that helps at all. It made the 10 mile trip home on the new battery.

I'm borrowing the van tomorrow, but I need to get this fixed ASAP since my car is my only vehicle. Any response will help.

 

[mattpresley]

I was driving to work to day in my car (2000 zx2) and my battery light came on, then flickered a bit. As I was driving all lights in my car got dimmer and dimmer until everything, and I mean everything, electrical stopped working. I had no lights, no turn signals, my speedo/trouble lights weren't even working. The car kept running until I got to work. (maybe a minutes drive from where everything shut down) I got out of the car, popped my trunk, and noticed that my trunk light was on. I started it up and it started fine. Battery light is still on.

I got a different battery out of my truck since I thought it might have been the problem. Nope, battery light is still on.

It turns off/flickers when my car is idling, but turns on when I rev the engine or when I'm moving, if that helps at all. It made the 10 mile trip home on the new battery.

I'm borrowing the van tomorrow, but I need to get this fixed ASAP since my car is my only vehicle. Any response will help.

Thats about how my alternator died man. I feel for you bro you have nothing but issues with your vehicles . for sure alternator.

WTF happened to the ranger?


BTW I went to autozone(bring in the old one to avoid 30 buk core charge) 140 dollars for a duralast alt with a lifetime warrenty. In the ranger it was 2 plugs and 3 bolts EASY

 

[koda6966]

I can't put the Ranger back on the road until the Zx2 is off the road, and I can't take the Zx2 off the road because I still owe on it. See my problem? The ranger still needs that oil pan fixed, other than that she's just about perfect. The rest of the stuff it needs is just to give me better gas mileage than 15mpg.

I'll take the alternator in to advance auto, they have one of those machine things that checks it. I have absolutely no money right now, so I'm kind of hoping my dad will pass me his credit card and have me pay him back when I get the money.

If it's the alternator, why would it have started back up like that?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

i`m not sure cant you just put a new regulator in it if that is the problem it is the part the wires plug into held in by 4 screws maybe someone here can help more let me check the tech library

 

[mattpresley]

I can't put the Ranger back on the road until the Zx2 is off the road, and I can't take the Zx2 off the road because I still owe on it. See my problem? The ranger still needs that oil pan fixed, other than that she's just about perfect. The rest of the stuff it needs is just to give me better gas mileage than 15mpg.

I'll take the alternator in to advance auto, they have one of those machine things that checks it. I have absolutely no money right now, so I'm kind of hoping my dad will pass me his credit card and have me pay him back when I get the money.

If it's the alternator, why would it have started back up like that?

Because the alternator has nothing to do with startup, thats all battery. Alternators do crazy things. Mine went christmas eve/december 26. I was driving to see family in san diego when at almost exactly halfway I saw my batt light on and my lights dimmed. In a panic I turn off my heater, radio, and dim my dashlights. I also took it real easy on the accelerator all the way to SD and she made it. Took it to get cheap cigs on christmas(cali cigs 2 bucks less a pack) and it didnt act up. I decided to drive about 120 miles that day and had no issues. I thought it fixed itself . December 26th another 50+ miles before it goes nuts!!! Alternators do CRAZY THINGS when they die Koda.

Also sounds like your about as financially well off as me so good luck bro. If I had the money I would overnight a check to you and say pay me back later cause your a good guy

 

[mattpresley]

i`m not sure cant you just put a new regulator in it if that is the problem it is the part the wires plug into held in by 4 screws maybe someone here can help more let me check the tech library

The actual voltage regulator is built into my alternator I believe. I assume his is the same way on the escort

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If you have and know how to use a volt ohm meter the tech library has the procedures for testing your charging system did you disconnect it and see if the terminals are clean. I just checked oreilleys and even the regulater is between 70 and 100 dollars. The part store should be able to tell you if it is the alt or the reg hope it just a bad connection GL

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

the last regulator I bought cost about $100

 

[mattpresley]

LOL his regulator is built into Escorts from 1998- (ranger same deal) so he will have to replace the alt. Like I said you had the same kinda issue as me koda, an I researched your alt via Google to be sure the regulator is inside the alt

 

[mentalbreakdown00]

Just because they are internal doesn't mean they aren't replaceable. But yes to the OP sounds like you have an altenator dying on you.

 

[koda6966]

Looks like it's going to be the alternator guys.

Your alternator is shot. The light comes on when the ignition key is in the on position and there is no alternator output. Very common issue on older ZX2s and Escorts. Mine went at 99K miles. I replaced it with a Ford Motorcraft alternator.
Its fairly easy to replace. All three mounting bolts use a 13mm socket wrench. The lower R bolt needs to be removed from under the car. Also the coolant reservoir bottle needs to be moved out of the way. You will need a 10mm deep socket for the lower nut. Also some alternators do not come with the pulley (the Motorcraft one did not) so you need to swap the pulley from your original alternator with a 24mm socket and impact wrench or the parts store can do it for you.

Now I just need to find a deep 10mm socket.

I just received word from my financial aid office at college that they're putting me at the top of the priority list and my check should be in the mail tomorrow, prior to me telling them I was going to have to drop out of college because I couldn't afford the gas without my financial aid they told me it would be at least two more months before I received the money. Maybe this will make life a little easier on me eh? First thing I'm going to do is pay everyone who I owe money to back, then fix everything that's wrong with my car, and last but not least pay it off if there's enough left over once I set aside gas for the year and 500 dollars safety cash.

 

[mattpresley]

Looks like it's going to be the alternator guys.



Now I just need to find a deep 10mm socket.

I just received word from my financial aid office at college that they're putting me at the top of the priority list and my check should be in the mail tomorrow, prior to me telling them I was going to have to drop out of college because I couldn't afford the gas without my financial aid they told me it would be at least two more months before I received the money. Maybe this will make life a little easier on me eh? First thing I'm going to do is pay everyone who I owe money to back, then fix everything that's wrong with my car, and last but not least pay it off if there's enough left over once I set aside gas for the year and 500 dollars safety cash.

Good deal man. it looks like you got it all worked out! remember the lifetime warrenty alt (10 bucks more at autozone) or you will regret it. I dont trust anything aftermarket, or manufacturer parts for that matter. Not to mention with the lifetime you could replace the alt 5 years later and it not cost you a dime. honestly Im gonna replace a ton of lifetime parts just because I was it to be a future selling point in the truck

 

[koda6966]

I don't have an autozone, but Advance auto has an alternator that's re-manufactured and has a limited lifetime warranty. It has a special note in the description that say's it will overheat if the battery isn't fully charged when you first install it, anyone know what that's about?

 

[mattpresley]

I don't have an autozone, but Advance auto has an alternator that's re-manufactured and has a limited lifetime warranty. It has a special note in the description that say's it will overheat if the battery isn't fully charged when you first install it, anyone know what that's about?

I dunno. Nothing I knew of. I changed my alt than had someone jump the battery. No problems since but im sure it wouldnt hurt to have advance charge your battery while you change the alternator in the parking lot

 

[koda6966]

I dunno. Nothing I knew of. I changed my alt than had someone jump the battery. No problems since but i'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have advance charge your battery while you change the alternator in the parking lot

I can't change it in the parking lot, I don't think they would like my car up on blocks in their lot. One of the bolts is only accessible from under the car. I could just put the battery in the Ranger and let it run for a bit. I do that periodically anyway.

I'm kind of pissed that the battery I had in the car had a broken post. The guy slapped tar on it to keep it from leaking or whatever.

I really feel like egging this guys house. He cleared the codes on me and told me the battery was new.