Dead Battery

MYsubaru1986 via CarKB.com wrote:
> 2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>
> The Battery and Alternator test good. The last time driving the vehicle, the
> ABS and Battery lights in the dash came on and the battery completely went
> dead. Before this time, the two lights would come on and off intermittently
> while driving and also loose power a little bit. This seems to happen after
> driving awhile. Any ideas, we are thinking it could be the alternator.
>
> Keith
>


My money would be on the alternator. First choice would be
intermittent/heat problem with the electronics inside. Less likely,
glazed/slipping belt (when was it last checked/replaced?) or trouble
with the 'exciter' circuit I suppose.

Carl


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 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

"MYsubaru1986 via CarKB.com" wrote:
>
> 2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l

Hi,

Original battery?

If so, you're around five years on it. That's not bad for OEM. And for
whatever reasons I don't quite understand, I've had batteries go bad in
what a buddy laughingly calls "digital failure mode." Car fires right up
as always, no indication of trouble, then the next time the key's
turned, NOTHING. Might be worth thinking of a replacement battery
regardless? Bad batteries are hard on alternators, too...

Also check for loose/corroded connections at the battery, grounds and
other connections you can tighten/clean...

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

VanguardLH wrote:
> "MYsubaru1986 via CarKB.com" wrote in <news:8400980d33a6e@uwe>:
>
>
>>2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>>
>>The Battery and Alternator test good. The last time driving the vehicle, the
>>ABS and Battery lights in the dash came on and the battery completely went
>>dead. Before this time, the two lights would come on and off intermittently
>>while driving and also loose power a little bit. This seems to happen after
>>driving awhile. Any ideas, we are thinking it could be the alternator.
>>
>>Keith
>
>
> With a voltmeter, what is the voltage across the battery with the car
> not running? What is the voltage when the car is running?
Hmmm,
Intermittent short somewhere around ABS sensor wires?
 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

On Mon, 12 May 2008 00:37:05 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40.DeleteThis@shaw.ca> wrote:

>VanguardLH wrote:
>> "MYsubaru1986 via CarKB.com" wrote in <news:8400980d33a6e@uwe>:
>>
>>
>>>2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>>>
>>>The Battery and Alternator test good. The last time driving the vehicle, the
>>>ABS and Battery lights in the dash came on and the battery completely went
>>>dead. Before this time, the two lights would come on and off intermittently
>>>while driving and also loose power a little bit. This seems to happen after
>>>driving awhile. Any ideas, we are thinking it could be the alternator.
>>>
>>>Keith
>>
>>
>> With a voltmeter, what is the voltage across the battery with the car
>> not running? What is the voltage when the car is running?
>Hmmm,
>Intermittent short somewhere around ABS sensor wires?

The ABS sensor lite comes on when the charge light comes on - bulb
check.

First thing I would check is the alternator brushes. They are LIKELY
getting short, and possibly worn in the brush holder. Certain
vibrations will float them off the slip rings, and the charging system
will "go on strike". Running with no charging system will kill the
battery.
** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada wrote:
> On Mon, 12 May 2008 00:37:05 GMT, Tony Hwang <dragon40 DeleteThis @shaw.ca> wrote:
>
>
>>VanguardLH wrote:
>>
>>>"MYsubaru1986 via CarKB.com" wrote in <news:8400980d33a6e@uwe>:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>>>>
>>>>The Battery and Alternator test good. The last time driving the vehicle, the
>>>>ABS and Battery lights in the dash came on and the battery completely went
>>>>dead. Before this time, the two lights would come on and off intermittently
>>>>while driving and also loose power a little bit. This seems to happen after
>>>>driving awhile. Any ideas, we are thinking it could be the alternator.
>>>>
>>>>Keith
>>>
>>>
>>>With a voltmeter, what is the voltage across the battery with the car
>>>not running? What is the voltage when the car is running?
>>
>>Hmmm,
>>Intermittent short somewhere around ABS sensor wires?
>
>
> The ABS sensor lite comes on when the charge light comes on - bulb
> check.
>
> First thing I would check is the alternator brushes. They are LIKELY
> getting short, and possibly worn in the brush holder. Certain
> vibrations will float them off the slip rings, and the charging system
> will "go on strike". Running with no charging system will kill the
> battery.
> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **
Hmmm,
Worn out brushes on a 2003 van?
 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

On Mon, 12 May 2008 03:24:55 -0400, Rick Courtright wrote
(in article <4827F0C7.9E7D7032.TakeThisOut@iname.com>):

> If so, you're around five years on it. That's not bad for OEM.

My wife's 1999 Forester, bought new in the fall of 1998, still has its
original battery. This is despite the fact that she has only 45,000 miles on
the car -- lots of short trips -- which is not good for a battery.

--
John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.
 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

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 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery 

John Varela wrote:

> On Mon, 12 May 2008 03:24:55 -0400, Rick Courtright wrote
> (in article <4827F0C7.9E7D7032 RemoveThis @iname.com>):
>
>
>>If so, you're around five years on it. That's not bad for OEM.
>
>
> My wife's 1999 Forester, bought new in the fall of 1998, still has its
> original battery. This is despite the fact that she has only 45,000 miles on
> the car -- lots of short trips -- which is not good for a battery.
>
Hi,
Battery life depends a lot on climate. Too cold(like where I am, Canada)
or hot places(like Arizona) is no good for batteries.
With a handy multimeter we ca pretty well point finger which is culprit,
battery or charging circuit or some kind of short or poor connection on
battery and alternator posts/terminals. When something like this happens
I pry open battery cell caps, check the acid in each cell with hydrometer.
 >> Stay informed about: Dead Battery