"Bat" light / volt gauge

[Dr76]

'93 2.3 manual, "Bat" light stays on and ONLY when decelerating (clutch depressed) my volt gauge drops to 9-ish (the "N" of "Normal"), all lights dim and truck stumbles a bit. I'm getting 14.4V to the battery. When driving the "Bat" light stays on, but volt gauge stays on the "m" or "a". Belt seems fine and not slipping...

Is this something one of those "Quick Start" (or other brand) repair kits can resolve? I believe they come with new brushes and internal regulator, but it's been quite some time since I've "rebuilt" one and was probably an "old school" 40 amp alternator!

* Does the '93 use the "3G" style???

Thanks

 

[Duane867]

Remove both the alternator and the battery and have them tested.

 

[Dr76]

Found someone with a "Mid-tronics" tester and came up with "Bad Cell", so looks like the battery is shot. The tester will also test the starting and charging system, but the vehicle needs to start under it's own power to do so (not with a jump box), so still need to check the alternator...

 

[Bryan22]

sounds more like a bad connection where power is going into the cab. Since the battery has 14.4v the alternator is probably working fine. If i was you, i'd start checking the wiring in the fuse block and checking grounds.- that is if the new battery dosen't solve your problem.

 

[Dr76]

... checking grounds.- that is if the new battery dosen't solve your problem.

*Update* swapped out the battery because of the bad cell and "Bat" light went out for a day or two, but now back on. Had alternator tested at two different locations and "passed" at both places. As far as grounds are concerned, I seem to only have the Battery grounded to the front of the block (near p/s pump) and a thin braided cable from the intake manifold to the firewall... should there be any others???

I also scanned it with a "Ford-specific" scanner, and came up with Code 513 (internal PCM fault - or something to that effect). Generic OBD-1 scanners never detected this code. Is my PCM about to die???

'93 2.3L 5-speed

Thanks!