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Battery gauge issue and stalling issues


1991fordrangerKobe

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Hey guys I have a 1991 ranger with a 3.0 v6 5 speed manual and my battery gauge has completely stopped working and I am not sure where to began to look to fix it. Also my truck continues to stall out and die consistently and im not sure if thats because the battery is dead or the alternator is bad. I replaced both the battery and alternator a couple month ago so im unsure if maybe the alternator was put in wrong. Please help
 


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Welcome Kobe.
 

RonD

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Welcome to TRS :)

You need to get a Volt Meter to test the battery and alternator, $15-$20 and it will save you hundreds of $$$

For now, first check battery cables on the battery, pull them off and clean them then put back on.

Alternator powers the whole vehicle when engine is running, if it has failed then engine will stall at idle
Battery is just used to start the engine, after that alternator does everything
 

1991fordrangerKobe

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Hey thanks Ron! I have a volt meter I can use to check everything and I have done so after the new alternator was put in but I think I could have possibly connected the wires into the wrong places, would that make the truck stall?
 

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Hey thanks Ron! I have a volt meter I can use to check everything and I have done so after the new alternator was put in but I think I could have possibly connected the wires into the wrong places, would that make the truck stall?
Unless you wen to the unnecessary length of unhooking all the wires at the starter relay while doing the alternator, it would bee quite and impressive feat to hook the alternator up wrong. We are talking "shoot yourself with a bow" level impressive.

If you had hooked thee battery up backwards nothing would work.
 

1991fordrangerKobe

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No I didnt go all the way back to the starter relay. All i did was take the old alternator out and hook up the three wires that apply to it.
 

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Use your volt meter

Test after truck has been off for at least 1 hour, the longer the better
Key off
Check Battery voltage at the battery terminals
12.8v is a new battery
12.5v is a 3 year old battery
12.3v is a 5/6 year old battery and time to shop for battery sale

Under that is a bad or drained battery

You need to know "battery voltage" for the rest of the tests

Using alternators metal case as the Ground, put red meter probe on B+ terminal
B+ is the terminal on the back of alternator, a stud and nut connection
Should read Battery Voltage

In the engine Fuse box find #3 and #7 fuses, both should be 60 amp
Pull out BOTH
Test B+ again, should be 0volts now
Put fuse #3 back in
Test B+, should be Battery Voltage again
Pull fuse #3 out and put other fuse in #7
Test B+ again, should have Battery voltage

If so then both wires and fuse are OK
Put both fuses back in

Now, still using alternator case as the ground
Unplug the 3 wire connector on alternator

Test Yellow wire, should have Battery Voltage(connects to Fuse #7, FYI)
Test Light Green wire, should have 0volts

Turn on the key
Light Green wire should now have Battery voltage

If all tests are OK then truck wiring is good


Put 3 wire connector back on

Start engine
Test battery voltage at the battery
Should be over 14volts, 14.5v-14.9v
Let engine idle for 5mins or so
Test voltage now and then, should be dropping as battery gets recharged
Should setting in at 13.5-13.8volts

If so alternator is working OK
 

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