98 Windstar electrical power loss

[JeffFinnan]

This just happened and left the car on a side street. The battery is relatively new. My big question is if the the alternator goes will the battery light come on?

What I had thought had happened the day before is this. When the car has been running for a good while and it is turn off for just a few minutes and restarted, it runs rough for a while. When left to cool down, it runs just fine and will do so for weeks. It is just that short turn off period. This happened yesterday and was fine this morning although the electrical power loss occured this morning.

Thanks,
Jeff

[CoachKarl]

Hello Jeff,

Yes, the battery light comes on whenever the ignition is on, and the battery is not charging. Should also have a dashboard gauge that indicates the discharge situation. (Little needle leaning toward the minus sign.) What year, engine & mileage do you have?

Karl

[JeffFinnan]

Originally Posted by CoachKarl

Hello Jeff,

Yes, the battery light comes on whenever the ignition is on, and the battery is not charging. Should also have a dashboard gauge that indicates the discharge situation. (Little needle leaning toward the minus sign.) What year, engine & mileage do you have?

Karl

Karl,

I am at work right now and can't remember the engine on it. It is a '98 model. I do not recollect any dashboard gauge on it. It was just that as it was running very rough, the battery light started to flash on and off. And now will not turn over.
Jeff

[dougand3]

Sounds like alternator not charging. Try this...

1. Check battery voltage with a multimeter - $2.98 at Harbor Feight Tools, $10 at Walmart. It should be ~12.0-12.5v if battery is ok but still could be a good battery if lower - just discharged state.
2. Get it running-may start on it's own after sitting or may need to jump it.
3. Check battery voltage again - it should be ~13.2-14.2v if alternator is properly charging. If lower or dropping, your car is running on bat alone. 4. Shut her down.
5. You can pull the alternator and take it Autozone to be tested. I've had good luck with their Duralast lifetime warranty ones ~$120.

Or go by Autozone with parts intact and have them test for free with their machine.

[Jimwljr]

Originally Posted by dougand3

Sounds like alternator not charging. Try this...

1. Check battery voltage with a multimeter - $2.98 at Harbor Feight Tools, $10 at Walmart. It should be ~12.0-12.5v if battery is ok but still could be a good battery if lower - just discharged state.
2. Get it running-may start on it's own after sitting or may need to jump it.
3. Check battery voltage again - it should be ~13.2-14.2v if alternator is properly charging. If lower or dropping, your car is running on bat alone. 4. Shut her down.
5. You can pull the alternator and take it Autozone to be tested. I've had good luck with their Duralast lifetime warranty ones ~$120.

Or go by Autozone with parts intact and have them test for free with their machine.

I have a problem very simular to this my battery seems to be good and my alternator passed the test twice at autozone can someone please let me know what else might be the problem