97 Range with Low Volts on gauge

[gman7711]

Hello all.

I have a 97 ford ranger 2.3L with the dual sparkplugs per cyl. I was on the freeway going 65 and then the car just shut off. I was able to get towed to a parts store and work on it and this is what I found out.
Alternater is fine
The battery is dead.

I take my dads battery out of his van and try to start my truck and it cranks kind of slow and then noticed that the Volt gauge on the dash is just above the Low line. His battery is fully charged.

What would cause the electrical system to do this:

Not be able to run (even if it could start)
kill a 3 year old battery
crank slower then ussal
show low volts on the dash gauge with a full charged battery

I know I still have to test for spark, but that would be too much a coincadince for both coil packs to fail at the same time. unless one was already dead. It has been throwing a code about the emissions moduel being bad, but I don't think there conected.

Please help. I just got a job after being laid off for over a year and need this vehical to get to work!

Thank you,
Phil

P.S. If the starter solenoid was bad, would that cause a running car to shut off? Could a starter crank with a bad one?

 

[Brett06]

i also have 97 and my battery recently went dead. The alternator on these trucks do not power everything on the truck like old atlernators would. Therefore when you hit the brakes or something like that (when the battery is bad) the truck will cut off. As for the Voltage gauge being low im not sure besides a weak alternator. That would be the only thing i would know of seeing as how the voltage gauge works off of the alternator. Take a voltage meter and turn your truck on and turn everything power in your truck on (fan, lights, cd player, etc). check the alternator with the voltage meter and see what it is on, wait 15 to 20 min and check again. If the voltage has decreased your alternator is becoming weak and depending on how quickly the voltage dropped will factor in on killing your battery no matter how new it is. I hope this helps you. I am just speaking from what has recently happened to me and things i know can happen.

EDIT*** cranking slower would also be cause by a battery, the truck starts off the battery and then the alternator takes over

 

[gman7711]

i also have 97 and my battery recently went dead. The alternator on these trucks do not power everything on the truck like old atlernators would. Therefore when you hit the brakes or something like that (when the battery is bad) the truck will cut off. As for the Voltage gauge being low im not sure besides a weak alternator. That would be the only thing i would know of seeing as how the voltage gauge works off of the alternator. Take a voltage meter and turn your truck on and turn everything power in your truck on (fan, lights, cd player, etc). check the alternator with the voltage meter and see what it is on, wait 15 to 20 min and check again. If the voltage has decreased your alternator is becoming weak and depending on how quickly the voltage dropped will factor in on killing your battery no matter how new it is. I hope this helps you. I am just speaking from what has recently happened to me and things i know can happen.

EDIT*** cranking slower would also be cause by a battery, the truck starts off the battery and then the alternator takes over

My alternator is fine. I wasn't braking when the truck shut off. Voltage at the Battery is great. Voltage in the car is way low. something is shorted out.

And I don't understand what you are talking about "If the voltage has decreased your alternator is becoming weak". I pretty sure you can't check the alternator with out the truck running. Mine doesn't run. It shut off, and I can't get it started again.

Thanks!

 

[Brett06]

thats what i mean when i said turn the truck on go have it checked and see what the codes say again because if it was anything major enough to lower your voltage that much it will probably show up, have u had your alternator checked? u can never tell, they usually dont just all of a sudden break, they tend to get weak, that's what the voltage meter test is for. And as for you not braking when the truck cut off, any number of things can cause it to cut off like that when your batt is bad. Last week when this happened to me mine wouldnt start either, i had to be jumped off, and it died again soon after when i used anything power. We had very cold weather the night before and it ended up giving my battery its final blow. that how i fixed mine (got a new batt) hope u find your problem and post up when you find it

 

[gman7711]

thats what i mean when i said turn the truck on go have it checked and see what the codes say again because if it was anything major enough to lower your voltage that much it will probably show up, have u had your alternator checked? u can never tell, they usually dont just all of a sudden break, they tend to get weak, that's what the voltage meter test is for. And as for you not braking when the truck cut off, any number of things can cause it to cut off like that when your batt is bad. Last week when this happened to me mine wouldnt start either, i had to be jumped off, and it died again soon after when i used anything power. We had very cold weather the night before and it ended up giving my battery its final blow. that how i fixed mine (got a new batt) hope u find your problem and post up when you find it

I had the alternator checked. it works.

Battery = good
Alternator = good
Starter = good

Volt gage on dash shows very low.
will not run.
I have NOT checked for spark yet. That's next. maybe the coil controler went. don't know.

 

[modelageek]

I have a 97 ford ranger 2.3L with the dual sparkplugs per cyl. I was on the freeway going 65 and then the car just shut off. When your timing belt breaks the car dies complely, however it should crank over easier and not affect the bat
The battery is dead.


What would cause the electrical system to do this:

Not be able to run (even if it could start)
kill a 3 year old battery
crank slower then ussal
show low volts on the dash gauge with a full charged battery

I know I still have to test for spark, but that would be too much a coincadince for both coil packs to fail at the same time. unless one was already dead. It has been throwing a code about the emissions moduel being bad, but I don't think there conected.Tell us what the codes are a bad crankshaft position or cam shaft postioning sensor can kill the engine

Please help. I just got a job after being laid off for over a year and need this vehical to get to work!

Thank you,
Phil

P.S. If the starter solenoid was bad, would that cause a running car to shut off? No Could a starter crank with a bad one? No

 

[Bryan22]

id start by checking all the major grounds and cleaning the battery terminals and cables. while you're in there cleaning everything keep an eye open for loose connections, corrosion on the cables and any exposed wireing. Also sometimes on the battery cables, they look great at first glance but are completely corroded inside. just pay attention and give everything a good check.

 

[gman7711]

I have a 97 ford ranger 2.3L with the dual sparkplugs per cyl. I was on the freeway going 65 and then the car just shut off. When your timing belt breaks the car dies complely, however it should crank over easier and not affect the bat
The battery is dead.


What would cause the electrical system to do this:

Not be able to run (even if it could start)
kill a 3 year old battery
crank slower then ussal
show low volts on the dash gauge with a full charged battery

I know I still have to test for spark, but that would be too much a coincadince for both coil packs to fail at the same time. unless one was already dead. It has been throwing a code about the emissions moduel being bad, but I don't think there conected.Tell us what the codes are a bad crankshaft position or cam shaft postioning sensor can kill the engine

Please help. I just got a job after being laid off for over a year and need this vehical to get to work!

Thank you,
Phil

P.S. If the starter solenoid was bad, would that cause a running car to shut off? No Could a starter crank with a bad one? No

it was the timming belt. the battery is fine. what was causing the voltage drain is the 2 coil packs drawing power. thankyou for the help. now to lookup tips on puting the new one on correctly!