Hello,

Once again I've come up with a problem that upon trying to find using the search feature has me confused and unsure.

Here's the situation.

I went for a ride today, about 45 minutes in I noticed my battery light was on and the gauge showed it was low. So I decided to turn around and head home. About 15 minutes after that I noticed the ABS light was on so my first assumption was bad alternator. Then about 5 minutes later I lost all power to the instrument panel and my gauges all bottomed out. At this point I was only about 10 minutes from my house so I thought I might make it. Unfortunately a few minutes later, I lost power steering then I'm guessing the fuel pump stopped pumping as the truck died.

I looked around and I've had bad battery or bad alternator as options but my battery was replaced about 5 months ago at the ford dealership so I'm assuming its not that. However, about month ago I left my lights on for less than 2 hours and the truck wouldn't even turn over so I really don't know what to think.

I'm planning on having it towed tomorrow but not sure if I'm better off bringing it to the mechanic or if its merely an alternator and battery I can do that myself.

Any info or insight would be greatly appreciated.

As always, thank you in advance

 

Pull the battery and have it checked. I have had brand new batteries that are bad, so once can go bad in 5 months also.
From your symptoms it sound like the alternator is bad. They can check those at the parts store also.

 

I'd check the battery also. My alternator went as the battery light did come on, but it stayed right around the middle. I still was able to drive the truck for another day which ended up around an hour or 2 of driving. Truck drove and ran fine, never had a lack of power, though I could see a lot of fluctuation in the Batt. gauge. Battery is bordering on 3 years, if not more.

 

I lost my alt in june on vaca. Low power output my gauges and lights flickering and my battery gauge going up and down. I drove another 40 mins like that til i got to autozone and they told me it was fried. It was putting out enough often enough over that 40mins to barely charge my batt. It almost fried my batt though. Thatd be my first spot to check. Also make sure your terminals are good

 

What they all said. Also, check your belt tension. I've seen a bad tensioner cause this very situation. It was weak, caused the belt to slip, thus, couldn't keep up with the battery usage. Check that also, and play it safe.

 

Thanks guys. Had the tow truck take it to the mechanic and they're supposed to check it out today. Live in a real small town so parts store is out of the question for me . At least with the info you gave me he shouldn't rip me off too badly.

 

You could always have diagnose only and you replace the parts that should save you a decent chunk of money depending on whats wrong.