Dead Battery

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

MYsubaru1986 - 11 May 2008 18:48 GMT

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

Reply to this Message

VanguardLH - 12 May 2008 01:22 GMT

> 2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> 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?

Reply to this Message

Tony Hwang - 12 May 2008 01:37 GMT

>>2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> 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?

Reply to this Message

clare at snyder dot ontario dot canada - 12 May 2008 02:07 GMT

>>>2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>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 **

Reply to this Message

Tony Hwang - 12 May 2008 02:53 GMT

>>>>2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>>>>
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> battery.
> ** Posted from http://www.teranews.com **

Hmmm,
Worn out brushes on a 2003 van?

Reply to this Message

Carl 1 Lucky Texan - 12 May 2008 04:14 GMT

> 2003 Ford 350 Van 5.4l
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> 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

Signature

to reply, change ( .not) to ( .net)

Reply to this Message

Rick Courtright - 12 May 2008 08:24 GMT

> 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

Reply to this Message

John Varela - 13 May 2008 00:20 GMT

> 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.

Signature

John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.

Reply to this Message

Valued Corporate #120,345 Employee (B A R R Y) - 13 May 2008 00:34 GMT

>> 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.

I have a '99 Jeep Wrangler w/ 55k, purchased 11/98, with the original
battery.

Unlike a typical Subie, the battery on the Jeep is one of the few
original parts remaining. <G>

Reply to this Message

Tony Hwang - 13 May 2008 01:56 GMT

>>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.

Reply to this Message