87 Aerostar charging problem

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Cosmopolite - 16 Mar 2006 02:28 GMT

Wife's Aerostar would not start, battery was dead. I removed battery,
brought in house and charged to approx 25%, put back, started and
checked dash digital volt meter. The meter shows 3 bars on range from 8
to 18 volts. I tightened belt, but no difference. Too cold and windy to
do anything more right now. Battery is back in house for full charge.

Any ideas on what this might be, before I start to pull the alternator
for testing ?

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Backyard Mechanic - 16 Mar 2006 02:38 GMT

> Wife's Aerostar would not start, battery was dead. I removed battery,
> brought in house and charged to approx 25%, put back, started and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Any ideas on what this might be, before I start to pull the alternator
> for testing ?

doesnt the cluster have an 'alt' light?

And HTH do we know what 3 bars means if you dont tell us how many bars
there are between 8 and 18?

If the radio has recemtly started to get 'singing' interference, I
suspect the brushes are shot.
Hint: Usually can determine by watching volt gauge while you rap the alt
housing smartly with handle of heavy screwdriver... will make a brush
contact for a little while.

Go to google groups and look on this group for my post on brush
replacement/refurb.

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Yeh, I'm a Krusty old Geezer, putting up with my 'smartass' is the price
you pay..DEAL with it!

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Cosmopolite - 16 Mar 2006 02:51 GMT

>>Wife's Aerostar would not start, battery was dead. I removed battery,
>>brought in house and charged to approx 25%, put back, started and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> doesnt the cluster have an 'alt' light?

If it does, the light doesn't work

> And HTH do we know what 3 bars means if you dont tell us how many bars
> there are between 8 and 18?

Don't know myself, I suspect that it may be 10.

> If the radio has recemtly started to get 'singing' interference, I
> suspect the brushes are shot.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Go to google groups and look on this group for my post on brush
> replacement/refurb.

Will do this.

Wife received this vehicle in the fall, for free and there is no
owners manual, as usual.

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clare at snyder.on.ca - 16 Mar 2006 02:48 GMT

>Wife's Aerostar would not start, battery was dead. I removed battery,
>brought in house and charged to approx 25%, put back, started and
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>Any ideas on what this might be, before I start to pull the alternator
>for testing ?

Most likely worn and/or sticky brushes - possibly a bad (integrated)
regulator, or a bad rotor. I've had all 3 on my Aerostars over the
years. First one just needed brushes. Second one the brushes were bad
- I replaced them - the regulator was also bad (found after
re-installing) and after putting in a new regulator, I found the
winding in the rotor was intermittent - it charged OK when cold, but
the rotor went open when warm, so I went to the wreckers and picked up
a recently rebuilt alternator off a wreck for 1/2 the price from local
jobber.
The wrecker gives a ONE YEAR warranty - the jobber part was only 90
days.

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Cosmopolite - 16 Mar 2006 03:01 GMT

>>Wife's Aerostar would not start, battery was dead. I removed battery,
>>brought in house and charged to approx 25%, put back, started and
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
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Thank you for the info. Saved txt. for future.

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ShoeSaleman - 16 Mar 2006 02:59 GMT

it would be best to make sure the cables are clean and have the alt and
battery checked IN the van.

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clare at snyder.on.ca - 16 Mar 2006 04:39 GMT

>> Wife's Aerostar would not start, battery was dead. I removed battery,
>> brought in house and charged to approx 25%, put back, started and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>it would be best to make sure the cables are clean and have the alt and
>battery checked IN the van.

If the voltmeter does not go , IIRC at least 2 bars over 12 the
alternator is not charging.(sounds like this is the deluxe version,
like the "eddie bauer" with the EL (ElectroLuminescent) dash) There is
no charge indicator light, and the fact the battery takes a charge and
starts the engine after being charged pretty well proves it is a
charging system, not battery problem. As the ENTIRE charging system
except the wires, is in the alternator, and the alternator is likely 9
years old, the chances of it being bad brushes are EXTREMELY high. Bad
regulators on that unit are also not uncommon, and as I noted from my
experience as a former multi-aerostar owner, the problems
occaisionally go beyond that to electro-mechanical failures.

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