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Car Forum / Ford / Ford Trucks / August 2006Electrical Issue 1998 Ford F150
Hi! Maybe I can get lucky and come across someone who knows more about this problem than me. I have a 1998 Ford F150, 4.2 liter motor, (motor is 10,000 mile new) with an electrical issue. Whenever I start the truck, it starts fine and the battery guage reads normal. After a minute or two, the battery guage needle will max out and stay at the top of the guage. I can then smell something that smells like wire. I replaced the alternator 3 months ago with a new one but maybe this one has failed. Any suggestions??? Thanks! Steve >smell something that smells like wire. I > replaced the alternator 3 months ago > with a new one but maybe this one has > failed. issue=girlspeak for problem. Smells like wire? Burning wire? Melting/burning wire has an unmistakable odor. If that alternator is new, it should still be under warranty....take it back and/or have it load checked. If this problem is what caused you to replace the alt in the first place, and the new alt checks out to be good, you may have a wiring problem. Check all the wiring in the circuit for opens/shorts. Electrical problems can be a pita to detect. Dave S(Texas) > >smell something that smells like wire. I > > replaced the alternator 3 months ago [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Dave S(Texas) Replace the main plug at the alternator when the alternator is replaced, the connections have to be soldered, just crimping isn't enough. Its been a problem since the design came out. Whitelightning Thanks for the info. I tested the alternator today at a local parts store and they said that it was shot so I installed a new one. After installation, the truck started and ran fine with no gauge changes. Hopefully my problem was with the replacement alternator I installed a couple of months ago. It was a brand new one and not rebuilt but I guess it's not too unusual for new ones to fail. Steve > > >smell something that smells like wire. I > > > replaced the alternator 3 months ago [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Whitelightning > Thanks for the info. I tested the alternator today at a local parts > store and they said that it was shot so I installed a new one. After > installation, the truck started and ran fine with no gauge changes. > Hopefully my problem was with the replacement alternator I installed a > couple of months ago. It was a brand new one and not rebuilt but I > guess it's not too unusual for new ones to fail. > > Replace the main plug at the alternator when the alternator is replaced, > > the connections have to be soldered, just crimping isn't enough. > > Its been a problem since the design came out. > > > > Whitelightning If the new alternator came with a new wiring harness you should change that as well. I've had to change them out with new alts, if only to honor the mfgrs warranty. There was something wrong with the wiring harness design, as whitelightning mentions, also told to me by the parts guy years ago. > If the new alternator came with a new wiring harness you should change > that as well. I've had to change them out with new alts, if only to > honor the mfgrs warranty. There was something wrong with the wiring > harness design, as whitelightning mentions, also told to me by the > parts guy years ago. The problem is the entire design. Its a slip connection handling upwards of 120 amps. Get a little corrosion because its not really weather proof, add some looseness from expansion and contraction due to heat and you end up with increased resistance, which generates heat which caused some melted harnesses and fires. Whitelightning The new alternator didn't come with a wiring harness but I'll take your advice and try and find one to replace the old one. I've never done anything like that before. Is there anything special I should know when I attempt to change it. Thanks! > > Thanks for the info. I tested the alternator today at a local parts > > store and they said that it was shot so I installed a new one. After [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > harness design, as whitelightning mentions, also told to me by the > parts guy years ago.
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