Battery dash light on

[DennisH]

I have a 1994 Ford Ranger 3.0 L and the battery idiot light is on. It's the one that looks like a battery and is red. Also the gauge for the battery is showing closer to 8 than it is 18 (needle to the left). The truck runs but the fan for heat/air is slow and the turn signals blink very slowly. Could it be that my battery is going dead or do i need a new alt. or voltage regulator? It was very cold tonight (about 35 F). Could that have drained my battery? I had a 20 minute drive home and the needle never went back up to where it usually is which tells me it's not charging. I put a new alt. on about 2 years ago and a new battery about 3 years ago.

 

[Earl43P]

Sounds like a bad alternator to me.

Most AP stores can test the alternator and battery, while still installed.

 

[Timo99]

Go to Auto Zone and get them to test it before you spend big bucks on a new alternator.

 

[kelch.28]

I just had the same problem the other day, I took the alternator out took it to advanced auto parts, and it was dead.Bought a new one for 150 but you can get them used from salvage yards for 50 bucks. Also, if you plan on buying a new alternator take the old one with you because like batteries there is a fifty dollar charge for not turning in your old alternator.

 

[DennisH]

Well, i went to autozone to have my battery and alternator tested. The battery was good but the guy that tested my alternator, after testing it, said and i qoute, "Ahh man, you got a bad alternator or sumthin..." but in a slow and ignorant voice. So basically the guy had no f*&kin clue what was wrong so i went ahead and bought the alternator figuring that's what the problem is. This is the second one I've put in it and the old one had a lifetime warranty so i should get the new one free right? well they have no record of me ever purchasing an alternator there before so i got screwed into buying ANOTHER alternator for $156. I officially hate Autozone now. But anyway thanks for the posts. I'm going out to the barn to put it in after my truck cools down. I'll repost after I'm done to let you guys know if that fixed it.

 

[Earl43P]

I cured that AZ problem by getting one of their discount cards.

Now, every time I purchase anything there, I present the card. If I'm driving the wrong truck (card stays in my 2000), I simply give my cell# for the "discount".

I had $60 of discount credit when I bought some parts recently. Made me happy to save the $$.

In your case, it would have pulled up that prior alternator purchase. I got a new battery for $12 when I returned my "shop" battery for no longer holding a charge. I had no receipt, but using the card (cell # in this specific case) worked.

 

[DennisH]

More problems than i thought. I put alt. on from autozone and it was junk. It rattled and didnt work so i got another one from O'rilies. That one was good but the light stayed on and the gauge didnt move once i installed it. I talked to a tech. and he said its a fuse somewhere between the yellow and white wire on the three prong plug that goes into the alt. and the starter solenoid. I sent my truck to a mechanic to have it looked at and possibly fixed if he has the parts. any suggestions or thoughts on what this might be?

 

[DennisH]

Earl43P, its not so much "Autozone" its the people that work at that Autozone. They used to be all cool and i knew them on a first name basis, but they all quit or moved stores and now its all new guys which are pricks and don't know shit about turning a wrench. I'm never buying anything from Autozone again. Oh, and the warranty thing, this is the 3rd time I've had something fail and brought it back and they didn't replace it because they didn't have it on record.

 

[DennisH]

it ended up being a bad alternator and a bad fuse that goes between the alt. and the battery.

 

[ForOffRoadDriving]

you could avoid the "purchase not on file" thing by keeping all your car part receipts in a older somewhere you will not lose it. that way you have proof of when and where you bought it from.

 

[95rangerboy]

I had the same problem as you with it not charging thought it was the alternator but it was the fuse in the PDC it was blown.. Also now my aux power port works that fuse was blown also. LEarn something new every day..LOL Well anyway HAPPY THANKSGIVING

 

[elliot2fastjameson]

wow this is the closest threrad ive read on this topic, i have a 94 2.3 5spd with the same prob, killed my bat n alt now the light is still on after i replaced them both new. must be a fuse, wish i had a damn owners manual

 

[philofab]

A Ford alt will not "turn on" if it's not getting 12V from the ignition switch. Not only should the large ga wire be connected to Batt + but also the A plug terminal should have batt +. The I plug terminal should only have 12v with the ignition on. Here is a diagam. If you have a multi meter you can test this anywhere.

http://www.zz-elec.com/en/UploadFiles/2007713193820601.jpg