Have a 99 f150,
My wife had a dead battery last week when she went to start the truck. got it going and on the way home said that all the gauges were going wacky and bouncing around. I got home from plowing and it started right up no problem. next day i went to start it and nothing. went out today and put a charger on it for a couple hours. started up and the gauges were wacky for a bit and then fine. however the battery gauge it all the way to the high side. I also noticed a little battery fluid leaking out the top of the batt. (did i over charge it?) loooking for any ideas as to where i should start troubleshooting. Battery is only about 5 months old and all connections at the battery are clean and tight.
thanks

 

ok,
Just took it for a drive. Seems to make the gauges jump around when i step on the gas. Also when i let off and it idles down a bit the batt gauge goes back into the normal range and the batt light gotes off but the heater fan which i had on seemed to diminiish as well. when i stepped back on the gas the heater fan kicked right back into high gear.
I also noticed that i can not get it to go into 4 wheel drive. I have the dial to turn it into 4 wheel so i dont know if that is a related issue or not. did not have the 4 wheel problem till just now either so i am guessing related!! Help me please. I am thinking maybe alternator but i dont know.
thanks

 

I agree with it probably being the alternator but I would take it and have both the battery and charging system tested. If you have an AutoZone nearby they will do it for you.

 

they will test the alternator and the batt?

 

Yeah they will do both for free

 

So this morning the truck was dead as a doornail again. does this mean there is a drain somewhere? or can the bad batt or bad alternator cause this? and when i jumped it again this morning all the gauges were weird and not working.