weird electrical gremlin in my bronco - 2003-04 Mach 1 Registry Owners Club

C-dub · 12-11-2006, 05:39 PM

I just got my truck back from ford, they replaced a faulty sending unit they installed about 1 month ago (free of charge). on they way home my volt meter gauge drops to about 10volts (at the n in "normal"). I get the truck home thinking loose battery cable, every thing looked good, so I cleaned them up and started up the truck. volts back up to normal. drive the truck to work the next day and the volts drop again (wtf) I did the old pull the batt cable trick and sure enough the truck dies. alternator was replaced about 6months ago. thinking it was weird I start the truck again and the **** volts go back to normal (wt. x 2) pull the cable again and truck runs fine. I brought it back to ford today for them to look it over as the truck was fine when I brought it to them... at least the charging system. they called me and asked me to tell them what the symptoms are...again and if it had any thing to do with the blown fuse that was in the cup holder (wtf x3) the fuse is for the machs cigarette lighter and way to small for any thing in a 96 bronco. it dawned on me this afternoon that the alternator is fine when the truck is cold, but after it runs for about 15-20 minutes the alternator cuts out. any ideas what this gremlin can be?

MACH_ONE_GUY · 12-11-2006, 05:42 PM

What year and style of Bronco? Sounds like a bad fusible link, they're located in the wiring harness to the alternator.

falcongtho3 · 12-11-2006, 05:48 PM

Voltage regulator???

C-dub · 12-11-2006, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MACH_ONE_GUY

What year and style of Bronco? Sounds like a bad fusible link, they're located in the wiring harness to the alternator.

96 xlt "full size" 5.8. thats what i was thinking after checking the shop manual, but it did not point out were it was. would that mean a new harness?

IMachU · 12-11-2006, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falcongtho3

Voltage regulator???

That's my guess....maybe a bad ground on the voltage regulator causing it to cut in-n-out (now I wnat a hamburger...thanks!).

MACH_ONE_GUY · 12-11-2006, 06:31 PM

nope. You could buy some new links and put them in your self, or do what I did with my Bronco, just cut 'em out and hard wire it. Less hassles this way.

substanger · 12-11-2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C-dub

any ideas what this gremlin can be?

It's NOT uncommon at all for an piece of crap rebuilt alternator to go bad after 6 months. I see it all the time, especially with Ford rebuilt alternators. JUNK!!

Azure Blurr · 12-11-2006, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by substanger

It's NOT uncommon at all for an piece of crap rebuilt alternator to go bad after 6 months. I see it all the time, especially with Ford rebuilt alternators. JUNK!!

I agree. Pull it and get it checked. Hey C-Dub, you might try another site as well....Ford Truck Enthusiasts. They have truck specific sites. Many Bronco nuts there to. I go on there for info on my 66' .

G · 12-11-2006, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by substanger

It's NOT uncommon at all for an piece of crap rebuilt alternator to go bad after 6 months. I see it all the time, especially with Ford rebuilt alternators. JUNK!!

My wife went through three in 9 months back in 01 with a 5.8 F250HD. I was deployed it was the alternator each time.

65fastback2+2 · 12-11-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMachU

That's my guess....maybe a bad ground on the voltage regulator causing it to cut in-n-out

+1.

C-dub · 12-11-2006, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZURE GIRL

I agree. Pull it and get it checked. Hey C-Dub, you might try another site as well....Ford Truck Enthusiasts. They have truck specific sites. Many Bronco nuts there to. I go on there for info on my 66' .

www.ford-trucks.com

yup, its a good site. but nothing like the car/ford Enthusiasts here on the reg.

C-dub · 12-11-2006, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IMachU

That's my guess....maybe a bad ground on the voltage regulator causing it to cut in-n-out (now I wnat a hamburger...thanks!).

I was just drinking about that. when I get the truck back and its still not fixed, I'll check all the connector pins in the harness... gotta check the pin point tests to see what ones they were playing with.

12-11-2006, 05:39 PM	#1
C-dub Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Fort Bragg. NC Posts: 1,558	weird electrical gremlin in my bronco I just got my truck back from ford, they replaced a faulty sending unit they installed about 1 month ago (free of charge). on they way home my volt meter gauge drops to about 10volts (at the n in "normal"). I get the truck home thinking loose battery cable, every thing looked good, so I cleaned them up and started up the truck. volts back up to normal. drive the truck to work the next day and the volts drop again (wtf) I did the old pull the batt cable trick and sure enough the truck dies. alternator was replaced about 6months ago. thinking it was weird I start the truck again and the **** volts go back to normal (wt. x 2) pull the cable again and truck runs fine. I brought it back to ford today for them to look it over as the truck was fine when I brought it to them... at least the charging system. they called me and asked me to tell them what the symptoms are...again and if it had any thing to do with the blown fuse that was in the cup holder (wtf x3) the fuse is for the machs cigarette lighter and way to small for any thing in a 96 bronco. it dawned on me this afternoon that the alternator is fine when the truck is cold, but after it runs for about 15-20 minutes the alternator cuts out. any ideas what this gremlin can be? __________________ what is it about modding my mach that makes me want to "Jimmy Dean" it into a tanker truck filled with gasoline at 150 mph???

12-11-2006, 05:42 PM	#2
MACH_ONE_GUY Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SOO, MICHIGAN Posts: 142	Re: weird electrical gremlin in my bronco What year and style of Bronco? Sounds like a bad fusible link, they're located in the wiring harness to the alternator.

12-11-2006, 05:48 PM	#3
falcongtho3 Moderating at Mach 1 Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Baton Rouge, La. Posts: 16,273	Re: weird electrical gremlin in my bronco Voltage regulator??? __________________ Krewe de la Mach Rouge #340804 13th Mach 1 built 11/07/02 Build Date 12/13/02 Delivery

12-11-2006, 06:31 PM	#6
MACH_ONE_GUY Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: SOO, MICHIGAN Posts: 142	Re: weird electrical gremlin in my bronco nope. You could buy some new links and put them in your self, or do what I did with my Bronco, just cut 'em out and hard wire it. Less hassles this way.

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