Ford Aerostar battery not charging

bozomedic wrote:

> "bozomedic" wrote:
> > 1994 Aerostar 3.0l V6 battery not charging. The battery dies
> > while driving and the car dies. I had the alternator checked
> > and it "failed" at Murray's. I bought a brand new alternator
> > (not a re-man) and had it tested before I left and had the
> > battery recharged as well. The battery is one year old and
> > Murrays said it was fine.
> >
> > I installed the new alternator and the battery indicator (has
> > an "8" on the left side and an "18" on the right) keeps moving
> > to the left and eventually the battery died just as before.
> > Any suggestions?
>
> Ok....went back to murrays and they replaced the battery. The
> alternator seems to work becuase I can detach the positive cable from
> the battery and the car still runs. The battery indicator is more
> towards the "18" side than the "8" side.
>
> When I put all things on in car, i.e. blower, defroster and radio, the
> car runs fine. As soon as I turn the lights on, the battery indicator
> jumps to the left and appears to cut out the alternator. What can
> this be?
>

It's likely a poor connection or fuselink near the distribution point..
around the starter relay.. should be getting hot when that happens

--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!
 >> Stay informed about: Ford Aerostar battery not charging 

Running the engine with the battery removed is a great way to damage
the electrical system and cost you a bundle. You got away with it this
one time so you probably won't take my advice. Remember this when you
are at the parts store.
 >> Stay informed about: Ford Aerostar battery not charging 

"Al Bundy" wrote:

> Running the engine with the battery removed is a great way to damage
> the electrical system and cost you a bundle. You got away with it this
> one time so you probably won't take my advice. Remember this when you
> are at the parts store.
>
>

Just in case you dont get that meaning.... the adverts in the back of
Popular Mechanics, back in the sixties and seventies, had several gadgets
that promoted little boxes that allowed you to run household drills from
your car's alternator... worked by switching out the voltage regulator.

Just takes a couple milliseconds to ruin your week. And your week's
paycheck.

--
Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!
 >> Stay informed about: Ford Aerostar battery not charging 

FWIW, this should be noted by anyone who reads this thread. As a side note,
maybe car manufacturers should start adding a section in the Owners Manual,
or even a warning label under the hood by the battery, stating that the
battery should absolutely NOT be disconnected while the car is running.

Not to pick on just one person but, why do people believe that while the car
is running, disconnecting one of the battery terminals is an effective way
to test their charging system? I don't know how many times I've heard
backyard mechanics (no offense Backyard Mechanic) and even sometimes
"certified mechanics" tell people that this is a good way to test your
charging system. BULLSHIT!! This is a good way to toast the computer, and
many times other parts of the electrical system. If you think you had
problems with your car beforehand and you try this trick and fry your $500
computer, or worse, you'll really be in trouble.

At some point, and I'm suprised it hasn't happened yet, someone is going to
post a topic stating that they were diagnosing a charging problem and
decided to pull off one of the battery terminals with the car running.
Then, if they happen to have a horseshoe up their ass, they'll continue on
about how they miraculously made it out of the garage when the car caught on
fire, after the positive terminal decided to weld itself onto the negative
terminal because it was moving about with the car running. This, or
something worse, is bound to happen if people continue to make fools of
themselves because they don't know what they are doing. Something to ponder
for a minute, if the power went out in your house, would you climb the
telephone pole on a ladder and start fiddling with the power lines in an
attempt to restore power to your home? No I don't think so.

Point being, when it comes to doing mechanical work on cars, use some common
sense. And if you don't know what you are doing, take it to someone who
does.

Just my 2 cents,
Sharky
 >> Stay informed about: Ford Aerostar battery not charging 

Fred wrote:
> "Sharky" wrote in message
>
>> FWIW, this should be noted by anyone who reads this thread. As a side
> note,
>> maybe car manufacturers should start adding a section in the Owners
> Manual,
>> or even a warning label under the hood by the battery, stating that the
>> battery should absolutely NOT be disconnected while the car is running.
>>
>> Not to pick on just one person but, why do people believe that while the
> car
>> is running, disconnecting one of the battery terminals is an effective way
>> to test their charging system? I don't know how many times I've heard
>> backyard mechanics (no offense Backyard Mechanic) and even sometimes
>> "certified mechanics" tell people that this is a good way to test your
>> charging system. BULLSHIT!! This is a good way to toast the computer,
> and
>> many times other parts of the electrical system. If you think you had
>> problems with your car beforehand and you try this trick and fry your $500
>> computer, or worse, you'll really be in trouble.
>>
>> At some point, and I'm suprised it hasn't happened yet, someone is going
> to
>> post a topic stating that they were diagnosing a charging problem and
>> decided to pull off one of the battery terminals with the car running.
>> Then, if they happen to have a horseshoe up their ass, they'll continue on
>> about how they miraculously made it out of the garage when the car caught
> on
>> fire, after the positive terminal decided to weld itself onto the negative
>> terminal because it was moving about with the car running. This, or
>> something worse, is bound to happen if people continue to make fools of
>> themselves because they don't know what they are doing. Something to
> ponder
>> for a minute, if the power went out in your house, would you climb the
>> telephone pole on a ladder and start fiddling with the power lines in an
>> attempt to restore power to your home? No I don't think so.
>>
>> Point being, when it comes to doing mechanical work on cars, use some
> common
>> sense. And if you don't know what you are doing, take it to someone who
>> does.
>>
>> Just my 2 cents,
>> Sharky
>
> My good buddy -- let's call him "Greg" -- once, while the engine of his 1971
> Pinto was running, disconnected the negative battery cable at the chassis,
> and, for some unknown reason, used it to pick a booger out his nose. While
> it was about halfway up the left nostril, he let out a scream that brought
> school children running from 2 blocks away. Why, the people in the
> neighborhood still tell stories about that event even today, several years
> later.
>
> Just wanted to share.

Quiet, k0ok.
--
ah
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