Alternator problems on 1994-5 Windstar 3.8

Hi - Thanks for those who have created this group. Being a Windstar
owner, this should be a great help for a limited DIY repair
attempter who used to work on his own vehicles that were made prior to
1970 but now is completely baffled by the complexity and sometimes
insane non-access for troubleshooting or the construction being such
that one needs to drop the engine in order
to dump the ashtray type of difficulty of new "modern" made cars. %-!)

The problem I'm having is not being able to get an alternator to work.
The one with the van originally was charging but not completely, then
it stopped charging altogether. So I installed a rebuilt one from
Autozone. Took a reading and was getting 14 volts at the battery and
thought alright, back to driving again. The next day however, I
couldn't start the van. Took a reading on the battery and it was only
9 volts. Got a replacement, put that in after charging the battery and
it only put out 12 volts and not the specified 14. Went to a junkyard
and only got 12 volts out of that one too!

Can't really afford a brand new one from the dealership which would
most likely work like a charm, but here's the issue: I can't believe
I'm having that much bad luck with 3 different alternators. But having
looked at the manual and having tested continuity for fuses and
fusable links, I see no other thing that could keep any alternator
from putting out 14 volts. The belt is tight, the fluids like oil and
power steering are a bit low, but I'm in south Louisiana so the motor
oil is not sludge, there is no ammeter or voltmeter in the dash and
the idiot light doesn't come on but this was bought from a used car
dealer in northern Florida so there is no telling if the bulb is
missing or not and it shouldn't prevent the alternator from charging
if blown, right? Or am I wrong about that?

So, do any of you have *any* ideas as to what my problem is if it's
simply not a matter of bad luck?

ANY and ALL assistance will be GREATLY appreciated!

KBG

Elvis Kabong wrote:
> Hi - Thanks for those who have created this group. Being a Windstar
> owner, this should be a great help for a limited DIY repair
> attempter who used to work on his own vehicles that were made prior to
> 1970 but now is completely baffled by the complexity and sometimes
> insane non-access for troubleshooting or the construction being such
> that one needs to drop the engine in order
> to dump the ashtray type of difficulty of new "modern" made cars. %-!)
>
> The problem I'm having is not being able to get an alternator to work.
> The one with the van originally was charging but not completely, then
> it stopped charging altogether. So I installed a rebuilt one from
> Autozone. Took a reading and was getting 14 volts at the battery and
> thought alright, back to driving again. The next day however, I
> couldn't start the van. Took a reading on the battery and it was only
> 9 volts. Got a replacement, put that in after charging the battery and
> it only put out 12 volts and not the specified 14. Went to a junkyard
> and only got 12 volts out of that one too!
>
> Can't really afford a brand new one from the dealership which would
> most likely work like a charm, but here's the issue: I can't believe
> I'm having that much bad luck with 3 different alternators. But having
> looked at the manual and having tested continuity for fuses and
> fusable links, I see no other thing that could keep any alternator
> from putting out 14 volts. The belt is tight, the fluids like oil and
> power steering are a bit low, but I'm in south Louisiana so the motor
> oil is not sludge, there is no ammeter or voltmeter in the dash and
> the idiot light doesn't come on but this was bought from a used car
> dealer in northern Florida so there is no telling if the bulb is
> missing or not and it shouldn't prevent the alternator from charging
> if blown, right? Or am I wrong about that?
>
> So, do any of you have *any* ideas as to what my problem is if it's
> simply not a matter of bad luck?
>
> ANY and ALL assistance will be GREATLY appreciated!
>
> KBG
>
>

I assumed you cleaned the battery cables. and checked the battery hot
and ground where they connect to the engine.

Assuming an alternator with a built in voltage regulator, it should be
14/14.5 volts charging or so.

The battery should be 12.6 or so static when charged.

What i think you have is a parasitic drain on the van.
Meaning something is draining the battery overnight.
maybe even a under hood or glove box light.

You need someone to measure current draw with the van off and not
running. you could try unhooking the battery overnight, then re
connecting it and see if the van starts. If it does, something is
draining it.

Bob