Alternator

I haven't looked under the hood yet but here's what I got: I have an operational volt meter in my car. On the way to town I noticed it was under 12 volts. When I tuned on my lights and A/C it dropped to 11 volts. I figured the alternator might be bad but the idiot light wasn't on. I let the car sit and idle and when the cooling fan kicked it it started charging. Probably a bad ground somewhere but I thought this was interesting.

I wonder if you can buy just the 'regulator' part of the alternator on an Escort? It also has the brushes on it. I think I will ask at my favorite local starter/alternator rebuilder.

And I would wonder how good a ground the voltmeter sees?

My sister has a 1985 Jeep pickup they bought new. Its got a voltmeter and an ammeter (added by them), and for the last 15 years it has been deciding to start charging about 5 to 15 minutes after they start driving it somewhere.

The volt meter is good. Verified by two different multimeters. So here's what I got this morning:

Turn on the key. Alternator idiot light comes on as it should. Start car. Charges great. (14 Volts) I let it sit and idle for about 20 minutes and go back and look. It's down to 11.5 volts. But no idiot light. So I turn the engine off, then turn the key back on and the idiot light no longer comes on (with engine off). :banghead:

It was the brushes. I ordered a new a regulator online. After I did I went and removed the old regulator. When I did I found that the brushes were shot. I ran back in the house and tried to cancel my online order (Amazon) but they said it was too late (after 5 minutes). At least I didn't buy a new $220 alternator. My alternator has 298,000 miles on it so I guess it's OK that the brushes are worn out.:2cents:

Hey tumbleweed. How much was a new regulator? I put brushes in mine for $14. They were so worn the springs wouldn't hold them against the armature. Glad you got it fixed. A regulator is easy to replace on a Ford. I replaced the brushes in about 30 minutes.

When my brushes went, my alternator light never came one. I experienced the same erratic voltages that you did where it was sometimes charging, sometimes not. I also have a voltmeter installed in my car:

http://forum.videohelp.com/images/guides/p1906339/escort_007.jpg

I could not believe how easy it is to get at the brushes. You don't even have to pull the alternator! Pretty sorry design though that the idiot light doesn't work when the brushes go. The only real reason I had a volt meter was because I found one at a yard sale for $1. Sure glad I had it. It's about 75 miles to a garage or parts store here so you really have to keep your stuff in good shape. The regulator was $42 plus shipping. Looks like I'll hit 300,000 miles this summer. Party at Zyyzzx's place!