amp gauge jumping really bad at idle

[scrapper]

I have a 94 ranger with a 2.3. I have an annoying problem with amp gauge jumping. It only does it sometimes, mostly when idling. I checked the wires going to the battery and they are tight and look clean.wires are plugged in and tight on alternator. New battery and alternator. I am thinking about replacing the battery cables. I tightened up the wires on the battery and it quit doing it as bad. I haven't got a chance to do any checking but the idle is rough and it ran much better after tightening the battery cables also? I hate to start replacing stuff with out someway to check it. I have a code reader but no codes come up. I was wondering also about the ground wires being bad or loose? I really need some idea what and how to check for the problem. I have never changed out the battery cables before but have a couple but am not sure how much trouble it will be. I trimed the ends on the old ones because they were corroaded then put new ends on.any help out there?

 

[Earl43P]

I have a 94 ranger with a 2.3. I have an annoying problem with amp gauge jumping. It only does it sometimes, mostly when idling. I checked the wires going to the battery and they are tight and look clean.wires are plugged in and tight on alternator. New battery and alternator. I am thinking about replacing the battery cables. I tightened up the wires on the battery and it quit doing it as bad. I haven't got a chance to do any checking but the idle is rough and it ran much better after tightening the battery cables also? I hate to start replacing stuff with out someway to check it. I have a code reader but no codes come up. I was wondering also about the ground wires being bad or loose? I really need some idea what and how to check for the problem. I have never changed out the battery cables before but have a couple but am not sure how much trouble it will be. I trimed the ends on the old ones because they were corroaded then put new ends on.any help out there?

Wires can look good but be corroded far under the insulation. If you touched it somewhere and it got better, I'd keep touching it there.

Since you have some cables, I'd replace them and clean up grounds while you are at it.
Don't forget the block to wiper motor, chassis to frame (under door area) and battery to rad support. There are some on the fenders too.

You seem to have idle problems too, Perhaps cleaning the IAC will help that.

 

[scrapper]

This is a older thread but I think it was voltage regular, did warrentee return on alternator and problem went away, before that I cleaned several grounds replaced the ground wire on the battery, cleaned positive cable at battery and on starter end, this did not help, just replacment of the alternator.