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Electrical Problem again

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Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

David - Sorry for your loss. Travel safely. You are in my prayers.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

Dad's: '81 F150 Ranger XLT 4x4: Down for restomod: Full-roller "stroked 351M" w/Trick Flow heads & intake, EEC-V SEFI/E4OD/3.50 gears w/Kevlar clutches
Blue: 2015 F150 Platinum 4x4 SuperCrew wearing Blue Jeans & sporting a 3.5L EB & Max Tow
Big Blue: 1985 F250HD 4x4: 460/ZF5/3.55's, D60 w/Ox locker & 10.25 Sterling/Trutrac, Blue Top & Borgeson, & EEC-V MAF/SEFI

PetesPonies

Re: Electrical Problem again

In reply to this post by jdavidsmi

Yikes, be safe. Things pop up when you don't expect them. Glad you seemed to nail down the problem.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

jdavidsmi

Re: Electrical Problem again

Thanks for the kind words and payers, got back home late Wednesday evening.

Got the voltage regulator replaced, yesterday and so far all is good. Voltage stayed around 14 volts while the truck was running. And 12.5 or so with the motor off. The dash amp meter always shows a discharge.

But what is really a bummer is the key off short is back. Battery was dead this morning. So back to tracing wires and looking.

David

David,
1984 F150 LX, 4x4 117 wheel base, Engine Code "F" = 302, 5.0 2/B,
Transmission code "A" = 4sp manual New Process model 435
Axle code "19" = 3.55 (ford 8.8) manf. 08/1983, in Norfolk
DSO code "21" AtlantaFactory Air Conditioner, Dash with Gauges
1990 Goldwing 1500
1986 F150 XLT, short bed, 5.0 automatic
2004 F53 Fleetwood Terra motor home
2017 Chevrolet Traverse
Home town Viola Tennessee

PetesPonies

Re: Electrical Problem again

Unhook the alternator one night and see if the battery is still dead in the morning.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

In reply to this post by jdavidsmi

Glad you made it. And, glad the regulator is working.

As for the key-off draw, pull the positive battery cable, put a trouble light from the positive post to the battery cable, and then pull all the fuses. The light should go out, indicating that whatever circuit is the problem is dead. Start replacing the fuses and when the light comes on you know which one it is.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

jdavidsmi

Re: Electrical Problem again

Saturday when I went to look for the key off short the battery was dead again. I put the charger on it and started working on other things. pinion seal replacement, rearview mirror replacement.

Once it warms up a bit I will attempt the short again.

David

Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

You might want to pull the positive cable to charge the battery.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

jdavidsmi

Re: Electrical Problem again

I taken the battery completely out, charged it up over the weekend, I'm taking the battery and the alternator down to the parts house and have them tested again. want to make sure I did not damage the battery with the overcharging from the bad regulator.

Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

Good plan. Bad diodes could cause a drain, and you could blow diodes with the over-voltage problem.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

PetesPonies

Re: Electrical Problem again

In reply to this post by jdavidsmi

You still didn't pull the alternator wire and let it sit over night to see if it was dead yet? right?

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

That's a good point, Pete. If the alternator is bad and you do my test the light will still be on when all the fuses are pulled.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

In reply to this post by jdavidsmi

If you don't have a meter, you have to have them test for backflow not just output.
Even the free Harbor Freight meters have diode test.
It looks like a line with a box and arrow in the middle.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

jdavidsmi

Re: Electrical Problem again

Did not get into town today, so I put the battery back in and disconnected the alternator. the voltage across the battery this evening was 12.73

I will check tomorrow and see what happen.

David

Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

I think you've found the problem. Better have the alternator tested. Again.

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

In reply to this post by jdavidsmi

12.73V is high for a battery at rest.
I'm used to seeing 12.56 or so.

If you do have a meter or self powered test light, simply test from the alternator lead to ground.

Some DMM's will not pass enough current in 'ohms' to get the diodes to block, but a test light or diode function will show that they are bad.

Or just hook the battery back up and wait a half hour, and feel the alternator case.
Is it warrm?
Yeah the diode(s) are bad.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

PetesPonies

Re: Electrical Problem again

Not if just turned off it isn't. 2.1V is the textbook spec for a cell, thus 12.6V. But the charging is greater, so when you first turn the engine off, the battery will read higher.

Pete's Ponies
Mustang RUSToration & Performance

1982 F100 Flareside
1983 Bronco

ArdWrknTrk

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

Right.
Like I said 12.7x is high if the surface charge is gone.
So, that reading must have been fresh off the charger.

No battery is 'perfect' and I usually see something a little below the ideal for a LA battery.

Regardless, there are any number of ways to figure out if the diodes are bad.

Try figuring out if the 2G "fire plug" has gone south.

Jim,
Lil'Red is a '87 F250 HD, 4.10's, 1356 4x4, Zf-5, 3G, PMGR, Saginaw PS, desmogged with a Holley 80508 and Performer intake.
Too much other stuff to mention.

FuzzFace2

Re: Electrical Problem again

ArdWrknTrk wrote

Right.
Like I said 12.7x is high if the surface charge is gone.
So, that reading must have been fresh off the charger.

No battery is 'perfect' and I usually see something a little below the ideal for a LA battery.

Regardless, there are any number of ways to figure out if the diodes are bad.

Try figuring out if the 2G "fire plug" has gone south.

I thought that was an easy one to figure out no?
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ford-trucks.com-vbulletin/2000x1198/80-20171104_171815_3ea9a2879b6917c7e3901d278453fe6aa298c79c.jpg
Dave ----

Dave G.
81 F100 flare side 300 six / AA OD / NP435 / 2.75 gear
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1980-Ford-F100?page=1
81 F100 style side 300 six/SROD parts truck -RIP
http://cars.grantskingdom1.com/index.php/1981-Ford-F100

Gary Lewis

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

I think there’s a lot more wrong than just the connector in that picture. 🙈

Gary, AKA "Gary fellow": Profile

85lebaront2

Re: Electrical Problem again

Administrator

In reply to this post by FuzzFace2

Actually on the up to 1987 2G system, the voltage sense for the POS is beyond the fusible links, look at the 1986 EVTM on the website. If it fails, or has a bad connection if the alternator has been replaced with one that has the "fire plug" permanently attached, the alternator will not charge and will promptly destroy itself. Matt blew one on his 86 F150 due to that, fortunately I still had a good one from Darth and was able to help him.

I still say, I want whatever it was the engineers at Ford were on when that was designed, it must have been some "dynomite sheet mon".

Bill AKA "LOBO" Profile

"Getting old is inevitable, growing up is optional" Darth Vader 1986 F350 460 converted to MAF/SEFI, E4OD 12X3 1/2 rear brakes, traction loc 3:55 gear, 160 amp 3G alternator Wife's 2011 Flex Limited Daily Driver 2009 Flex Limited with factory tow package Project car 1986 Chrysler LeBaron convertible 2.2L Turbo II, modified A413

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