Please Help!!!

[obisdogg1]

i have a 94 ranger 4.0 5speed. i have replaced the alternator battery solenoid and startes is a few months old. my problem is my volt gage in my truck will read normal drive a few miles then it drops low. and my truck will not start unless i jump it. im lost and my truck is sitting 50 miles away from my house right now!

 

[MrRangerSir]

Battery is not charging. Check the fusible link in the heavy red cable and the 15A fuse in the engine compartment fuseblock.

 

[obisdogg1]

ok the fuse would in the box under the dash? and i can not find where the fuse link is at.

 

[MrRangerSir]

The fusible link will be in the wiring harness, near the solenoid. The 15A fuse is not under the dash. There is a fusebox in the engine compartment. There is a 15A fuse for the alternator in there.

 

[locked ranger]

alt. could be bad even tho its new. thats happened to me more than once from autozone and advanced auto parts. i only let my local guy rebuild them for me now, also have you cleaned and checked all wire connections?

 

[MrRangerSir]

Couple of things to check. Use a digital voltmeter. Start with a fully charged battery.

Check the battery voltage. ~12-12.5 V engine off . Start the engine and let it idle. Battery voltage should climb around 1 V to 13-14 V. No rise, or a small drop, charging system is not working.

With the engine off, check for 12V at the heavy red wire on the back of the alternator. No voltage?, check that fusible link or the connection at the solenoid.

With the key off, check for constant +12V at the A terminal of the 3 wire alternator connection. No voltage?, check the 15A alternator fuse in the engine compartment fusebox.

Check for voltage at the I terminal of the 3 wire alternator connector. +12V with the ignition on, (engine does not have to be running). 0V with the key off.

Don't worry about the S terminal. Internal wiring between the alternator and regulator.

 

[obisdogg1]

ok ive done all that everything is good. would my starter have anything to do with this. my oil pain leaks right on the starter would that maybe cause it to short out at all? and cause this to lose power or would it have to go back to the alt?

 

[MrRangerSir]

If it starts with a boost, likely won't be starter or cables. Post what you measured, (actual readings). Maybe we can help you figure this out.

Just a thought, any big stereo amps wired into this?

 

[obisdogg1]

ok will do and no amp or anything running every thing is factory on truck.

 

[locked ranger]

The oil getting inside the starter will destroy it very fast, this is coming from a buddy that rebuilds them daily but like mrrangersir said, it shouldnt be the starter if it starts with a boost.

 

[JackDW]

I had a simular issue with daughters Ranger 4.0. Turned out to just be the flat plug where it plugs into the alternator. When I shook it back and forth, it would charge and then stop charging. Explains why it would come and go. I have a charger that has an alternator tester build in. I would watch the voltage go up and down as I shook the plug. You can do the test with any old multi-meter.

 

[obisdogg1]

ive got it fixed now. found a bad wire from the alt to solenoid. it was in the plastic wiring cover.

 

[locked ranger]

ive got it fixed now. found a bad wire from the alt to solenoid. it was in the plastic wiring cover.

good deal!!