eREdge
Member
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2018
- Messages
- 49
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 8
- Location
- Jacksonville, FL
- Vehicle Year
- 2002
- Make / Model
- Ford
- Engine Size
- 3.0L
- Transmission
- Automatic
02 Ranger Edge 3.0L auto
So I been having this problem where the battery meter drops to Low. This doesn't happen every start up. Just 1/4 of the time. I've checked the volts with a multimeter and it reads anywhere from 11.8-12.3.v when the gauge is low. I had the charging system load tested and all checked out fine at the part store. I had the alt replaced anyways since a buddy of mine had a spare one lying around. The battery is only 2 years old, but I did have a parasitic draw that I fixed a month ago. Stays at 12.3v overnight. Same symptoms with the new alt, but it's been happening more frequently.* The battery terminals were also replaced.
I found that wiggling the alt and battery cables around will sometimes jump the gauge to the middle. Or restarting the truck will sometimes have the same effect. Reving the engine when the meter is low doesn't do anything.
Now, the battery cables themselves aren't in the best condition. The positive wires are stretched, frayed and over exposed. No corrosion. Cutting them back an inch won't have enough length for them to secure properly to the terminal. And the negative side looks ok with just a bit of corrosion.
I don't know how I would go about changing the cables. I did trace them, but they bundle up with a couple other wires in a harness and then bolts onto a a crimped terminal by the fusebox. Hopefully, its not as bad as it looks so any advice is appreciated.
I also want to add that the terminal posts themselves are clean and the new terminals aren't loose. The serpentine belt isn't loose either and was replaced sometime before I bought the truck(5 months ago).* The battery light does not come on when the meter is low. It does come on when I turn the key to the ON position. It doesn't have any effect on the lights either i.e no dimming
One connection (small white/black wire in-between the alt connector and power wire) on the alt does get loose sometimes. I thought it was a possible culprit so I pulled it while the truck was running and it didn't affect the gauge at all. It stayed in the middle. The tab on the plug broke off
So I been having this problem where the battery meter drops to Low. This doesn't happen every start up. Just 1/4 of the time. I've checked the volts with a multimeter and it reads anywhere from 11.8-12.3.v when the gauge is low. I had the charging system load tested and all checked out fine at the part store. I had the alt replaced anyways since a buddy of mine had a spare one lying around. The battery is only 2 years old, but I did have a parasitic draw that I fixed a month ago. Stays at 12.3v overnight. Same symptoms with the new alt, but it's been happening more frequently.* The battery terminals were also replaced.
I found that wiggling the alt and battery cables around will sometimes jump the gauge to the middle. Or restarting the truck will sometimes have the same effect. Reving the engine when the meter is low doesn't do anything.
Now, the battery cables themselves aren't in the best condition. The positive wires are stretched, frayed and over exposed. No corrosion. Cutting them back an inch won't have enough length for them to secure properly to the terminal. And the negative side looks ok with just a bit of corrosion.
I don't know how I would go about changing the cables. I did trace them, but they bundle up with a couple other wires in a harness and then bolts onto a a crimped terminal by the fusebox. Hopefully, its not as bad as it looks so any advice is appreciated.
I also want to add that the terminal posts themselves are clean and the new terminals aren't loose. The serpentine belt isn't loose either and was replaced sometime before I bought the truck(5 months ago).* The battery light does not come on when the meter is low. It does come on when I turn the key to the ON position. It doesn't have any effect on the lights either i.e no dimming
One connection (small white/black wire in-between the alt connector and power wire) on the alt does get loose sometimes. I thought it was a possible culprit so I pulled it while the truck was running and it didn't affect the gauge at all. It stayed in the middle. The tab on the plug broke off