Hey guys so I have this problem with my 2008 fx2 that just occurred to me in the past hour, and can't really do anything about it until tomorrow since everything is closed for Christmas so I was hoping I could get a possible lead on the what's going on with my truck... So pretty much, on my way back home from my girlfriends, I suddenly noticed everything on the dashboard turned off. The speedometer, the gauges, everything. I thought it was a little strange, and decided to take care of it when I got home. Not further than 20 yards from my home, the AC turns off as well. As soon as I parked, I turned off my truck and decided to try turning it on again, but no luck. i couldn't imagine it could possibly be my battery cause I changed it no longer than a month ago. If someone could help me figure out what it possibly could be, I would appreciate it. Thank you, and happy holidays

 

Check your fuses first

 

Sounds to me like your alternator with a combo of maybe a bad battery. Maybe it just doesn't like the cold. I had a lot of mud in my alternator last winter and everything would turn off while I was driving like my radio, gauges, heat and ac. Lights would dim. If you have any electrical cleaner or brake cleaner, spray that in there and see if solves the problem

 

Your alternator is cooked.

 

Sounds like your truck used your new battery to get you home and now its dead because the alt was not charging it..

 

All things start with 12 volts... I'm with the crowd in being suspect of the alternator. Trickle charge the battery back to full and look into the alt. Our trucks are picky about cheap alternators so keep that in mind when looking for a replacement.

 

Take your alternator off and bring it to autozone or advanced auto and have it tested (3 times) for free.. It's very likely a dead alternator.. Thankfully it's a very easy swap, loosen the 2 bottom nuts on the alternator, and the 2 outer bolts on the top bracket and it will lift right out. Make sure you get your NEW alternator tested before you leave the store. If it's not putting out within the range of 13.5 to 14.5 volts, then have them give you another one and repeat the test again..

Might as well bring the battery with you too and have them juice it up for the first start.. Then go for a highway cruise to perk your battery back up..

 

That's a really good idea, getting the new alternator checked before you leave.

 

I agree, I have had a couple new alternators out of the box come up as bad. Good advice.

 

Engine will die before the lights go out from loss of electrical power. Lights wouldn't go out all of a sudden from a failing alternator.