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28 Posts
Well for probably a year my '91 B250 Van with 5.2L and auto-trans has on occasion decided to stop charging. It occasionally just seemed to drop a single phase; it was barely discarching at all. Finally, it went completely out while driving and gave the check engine light. Funny thing is, it just randomly starts working again. I suspected the gauge until I got the check engine light several times. The last few weeks it became consistant, to the point where the battery drained enough to slow the starter down and almost fail to start. The battery took a charge no problem after that, but still no charging and the check engine light.
Since the problem was intermittent I saw no reason to try and bench test the alternator, so I ponied up the $$$ and got a new alternator (since the regulator is inside). Well, it's still not charging, dang the luck. I have 12.6 volts across the battery posts with the key off and 12.25 volts with the engine idling and all accesssories off (except for that piercing check engine light, dangit).
So, assuming the replacement alternator is actually good, where else can you actually look? The fuses are good, the harness at the alternator was corrosion free, and the regulator is inside the alternator. I can only imagine the key switch or ECU having any say as to whether the alternator is on or off, but I'd love some input from knowledgable folks.
Thanks,
b-z-
Since the problem was intermittent I saw no reason to try and bench test the alternator, so I ponied up the $$$ and got a new alternator (since the regulator is inside). Well, it's still not charging, dang the luck. I have 12.6 volts across the battery posts with the key off and 12.25 volts with the engine idling and all accesssories off (except for that piercing check engine light, dangit).
So, assuming the replacement alternator is actually good, where else can you actually look? The fuses are good, the harness at the alternator was corrosion free, and the regulator is inside the alternator. I can only imagine the key switch or ECU having any say as to whether the alternator is on or off, but I'd love some input from knowledgable folks.
Thanks,
b-z-