'93 F-150 - possible alternator problem?

On Feb 6, 8:04*am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> jim *<"sjedgingN0Sp"@m@mwt,net> wrote:
>
> >Unless it is a heavy duty alternator these things only put out about
> >25-30 amps at normal idle speed.
>
> And if in fact the problem IS just a matter of the severe cold, then
> upgrading to a heavy duty alternator may be a solution. *Because next
> winter is going to be cold too.

I wouldn't call this "severe cold" after all it was only raining, not
snowing or freezing. But I am going to have a hard time
"troubleshooting" it as it pretty much lives in the parking lot at
work when I'm not driving it (long story.)

nate

N8N > wrote in news:d8e42346-826a-4e58-bedd-
:


> But I am going to have a hard time
> "troubleshooting" it as it pretty much lives in the parking lot at
> work when I'm not driving it (long story.)
>



If you can start it while it's warm, it takes all of a few seconds to touch
a VOM probe to each battery terminal with the engine running.

Then it would take all of a few seconds to check for headlight brightness
fluctuation when revved up and down from idle.

I can't imagine that you'd even get very wet during all this.


--
Tegger

On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:22:12 -0800, Jeff Strickland rearranged some
electrons to say:

> "Nate Nagel" > wrote in message
> ...
>> hi all
>>
>> had alt. replaced in '93 F-150 a while back... stopped charging on way
>> home from work one day. just more recently I noticed slow starting
>> when cold so had battery replaced. Today I had to drive the truck in a
>> cold rain so I had lights, wipers, defrost, etc. on. At idle in gear
>> volt gauge would drop to about "O" in "NORMAL" where it usually sits
>> between "M" and "A" (sorry, no voltage readings - didn't have meter
>> with me.) Should I be worried, or is this normal? I have to say I
>> don't particularly like it, as stop and go traffic is not particularly
>> uncommon around here (DC-land.) If it's NOT normal, where can I get a
>> GOOD alternator?
>>
>> thanks
>>
>> nate
>
>
> Given the sub-zero temps and 45 ft of snow on the roof of your house,
> I'd consider anything that runs to be normal. Wait until good weather
> before you get too worked up. I suspect that in good weather, the
> problem will go away.

I would say that the alternator not charging problem is not weather
related, and is not likely to "go away".

On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:49:57 -0800, Jeff Strickland rearranged some
electrons to say:

> "Tegger" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Nate Nagel > wrote in news:iik7ol02km1
>> @news7.newsguy.com:
>>
>>> hi all
>>>
>>> had alt. replaced in '93 F-150 a while back... stopped charging on way
>>> home from work one day. just more recently I noticed slow starting
>>> when cold so had battery replaced. Today I had to drive the truck in
>>> a cold rain so I had lights, wipers, defrost, etc. on. At idle in
>>> gear volt gauge would drop to about "O" in "NORMAL" where it usually
>>> sits between "M" and "A" (sorry, no voltage readings - didn't have
>>> meter with me.) Should I be worried, or is this normal? I have to say
>>> I don't particularly like it, as stop and go traffic is not
>>> particularly uncommon around here (DC-land.) If it's NOT normal,
>>> where can I get a GOOD alternator?
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> My first approach would be to put a digital voltmeter across the
>> battery terminals with the engine running. Have you done this?
>>
>> Park the truck pointing at a wall or someplace where you can easily see
>> the
>> headlight beams. Rev the enngine. Do the lights get brighter as the
>> revs rise, then dim as they drop back to idle? Try this with the
>> accessories off
>> and on.
>>
>> --
>
> If true, what does it mean?
>
> I think the OP is buried under umpteen feet of snow in a climate that is
> a bazzilion degrees below what it takes to sustain life, and his
> electrical system is simply showing the strains of the environment. For
> lack of a better term, he needs to chill out.

Measuring the alternator output will tell you if it's is charging the
battery or not. In the real world, a properly functioning alternator
will charge the battery no matter how much snow is on the ground.

On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:17:41 -0500, Nate Nagel >
wrote:

>hi all
>
>had alt. replaced in '93 F-150 a while back... stopped charging on way
>home from work one day. just more recently I noticed slow starting when
>cold so had battery replaced. Today I had to drive the truck in a cold
>rain so I had lights, wipers, defrost, etc. on. At idle in gear volt
>gauge would drop to about "O" in "NORMAL" where it usually sits between
>"M" and "A" (sorry, no voltage readings - didn't have meter with me.)
>Should I be worried, or is this normal? I have to say I don't
>particularly like it, as stop and go traffic is not particularly
>uncommon around here (DC-land.) If it's NOT normal, where can I get a
>GOOD alternator?
>
>thanks
>
>nate

Dash gauges are worthless at best. Totally misleading usually.

Get a good, accurate, volt meter (VOM, DVOM) and measure the battery
voltage with that. You should have about 13.8 volts DC when engine is
running. If it drops below 13.2 volts, then there is a problem with
the charging system, battery or cables/connections.

Also don't throw parts in without proper diagnostics.

On Feb 6, 3:12*pm, Tegger > wrote:
> N8N > wrote in news:d8e42346-826a-4e58-bedd-
> :
>
> > But I am going to have a hard time
> > "troubleshooting" it as it pretty much lives in the parking lot at
> > work when I'm not driving it (long story.)
>
> If you can start it while it's warm, it takes all of a few seconds to touch
> a VOM probe to each battery terminal with the engine running.
>
> Then it would take all of a few seconds to check for headlight brightness
> fluctuation when revved up and down from idle.
>
> I can't imagine that you'd even get very wet during all this.

need a helper, as I don't feel comfortable leaving the driver's seat
while in "drive"

nate

On Feb 7, 9:46*am, N8N > wrote:
> On Feb 6, 3:12*pm, Tegger > wrote:
>
> > N8N > wrote in news:d8e42346-826a-4e58-bedd-
> > :
>
> > > But I am going to have a hard time
> > > "troubleshooting" it as it pretty much lives in the parking lot at
> > > work when I'm not driving it (long story.)
>
> > If you can start it while it's warm, it takes all of a few seconds to touch
> > a VOM probe to each battery terminal with the engine running.
>
> > Then it would take all of a few seconds to check for headlight brightness
> > fluctuation when revved up and down from idle.
>
> > I can't imagine that you'd even get very wet during all this.
>
> need a helper, as I don't feel comfortable leaving the driver's seat
> while in "drive"
>
> nate

just check it while it's in park... Never leave the car when it's in
drive.

On Feb 7, 2:31*pm, m6onz5a > wrote:
> On Feb 7, 9:46*am, N8N > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Feb 6, 3:12*pm, Tegger > wrote:
>
> > > N8N > wrote in news:d8e42346-826a-4e58-bedd-
> > > :
>
> > > > But I am going to have a hard time
> > > > "troubleshooting" it as it pretty much lives in the parking lot at
> > > > work when I'm not driving it (long story.)
>
> > > If you can start it while it's warm, it takes all of a few seconds to touch
> > > a VOM probe to each battery terminal with the engine running.
>
> > > Then it would take all of a few seconds to check for headlight brightness
> > > fluctuation when revved up and down from idle.
>
> > > I can't imagine that you'd even get very wet during all this.
>
> > need a helper, as I don't feel comfortable leaving the driver's seat
> > while in "drive"
>
> > nate
>
> just check it while it's in park... Never leave the car when it's in
> drive.

The voltage dropoff, at least that I've noticed by watching the dash
gauge, does not occur in Park or Neutral because apparently the engine
is spinning faster enough that the alt. isn't working as hard...

nate

"david" > wrote in message
...
> On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 13:22:12 -0800, Jeff Strickland rearranged some
> electrons to say:
>
>> "Nate Nagel" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> hi all
>>>
>>> had alt. replaced in '93 F-150 a while back... stopped charging on way
>>> home from work one day. just more recently I noticed slow starting
>>> when cold so had battery replaced. Today I had to drive the truck in a
>>> cold rain so I had lights, wipers, defrost, etc. on. At idle in gear
>>> volt gauge would drop to about "O" in "NORMAL" where it usually sits
>>> between "M" and "A" (sorry, no voltage readings - didn't have meter
>>> with me.) Should I be worried, or is this normal? I have to say I
>>> don't particularly like it, as stop and go traffic is not particularly
>>> uncommon around here (DC-land.) If it's NOT normal, where can I get a
>>> GOOD alternator?
>>>
>>> thanks
>>>
>>> nate
>>
>>
>> Given the sub-zero temps and 45 ft of snow on the roof of your house,
>> I'd consider anything that runs to be normal. Wait until good weather
>> before you get too worked up. I suspect that in good weather, the
>> problem will go away.
>
> I would say that the alternator not charging problem is not weather
> related, and is not likely to "go away".

It is not NOT CHARGING, it simply moves the needle due to the heavy load and
cold temps. My guess is that the battery suffered because of the cold too.

N8N > wrote in
:


>
> The voltage dropoff, at least that I've noticed by watching the dash
> gauge, does not occur in Park or Neutral because apparently the engine
> is spinning faster enough that the alt. isn't working as hard...
>



Why don't you pull the truck up to a wall, a fat lady, or other solid
object, then observe the behavior of the headlights from the driver's seat?

Do you even /own/ a VOM? They're very cheap these days, and dead-easy to
use.


--
Tegger