Battery Light Flickering At Idol

[Stroken n Smoken]

Thought I would check with you guys before I just pick up a new alternater, this morning after I drove to work I noticed my battery light is flickering at an idol, rev it just a couple hundered rpm and it goes out. About a month ago I installed 2 new 1000 cca batteries because I was having starting problems I had the alternator checked then and they said it was ok, but I did notice some brown soot, for lack of a better term on the alternater, I just wonder if I ran it too long with the crappy batteries and took the alt. out. I have a 99.5 7.3 psd. Thanks again for your help! :burnout

[lifewitlooie]

check your connections. Make sure they are not corroded alllll to hell. if they are. fix that first. cost you 20bux maybe instead of a hundred on the alternator

[lifewitlooie]

at idle?.... maybe the alternator is going out. Better fix it before it sux the life out of your new batteries.

[Stroken n Smoken]

10-4, when I installed the new batteries I checked everything from the starter to alternater, and brushed the cables good, installed new battery bolts and used corrosion preventative. I did check to make sure something didn't come loose when I got to work this morning quick, just been kinda leaning towards the alt, with the brown poo on it and the flicker at an idol, I thought my dash lights looked a little dim on the way to work this morning, but I looked at the gauge and it looked fine, and noticed the light when I stopped to get coffee.

[Mikes97F250]

I've got the EXACT same thing going on with my 97 7.3L, didn't have a chance to diagnose it until later today. Keep me posted and I'll do the same.

Mike

[Logan]

It may just be a simple fix with the alternator. If you have an alternator shop in your area, that maybe a lot cheaper than getting a whole new alternator. Sounds like it is def something with the alternator though. Maybe a bad voltage regulator or something. Good luck.

[Mikes97F250]

Logan - I will do that, thanks for the advice.

Funny, this just started 2 days ago after I had been doing some heavy towing for 2 days straight (about 10,000 #s) in multiple trips (maybe 10 over two days).

[Mikes97F250]

Here's a stupid question. I just took a look at my alternator and checked for loose wires, and corrosion on the battery terminals. They all look good, clean, and tight.

I'm going to test the alternator and batteries next but should the alternator need replacing - is this as simple as swapping out the old for new?

Forgive me, I'm a rather mechanically oriented person (construction industry professional) but I'm new to tinkering with truck repair. Ok, with that background I'll ask my stupid question.

Is this something that I should do - it looks simple enough, although I'm thinking that the serpentine belt could pose a challenge. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

[geekdownrange]

Originally Posted by Mikes97F250

Here's a stupid question. I just took a look at my alternator and checked for loose wires, and corrosion on the battery terminals. They all look good, clean, and tight.

I'm going to test the alternator and batteries next but should the alternator need replacing - is this as simple as swapping out the old for new?

Forgive me, I'm a rather mechanically oriented person (construction industry professional) but I'm new to tinkering with truck repair. Ok, with that background I'll ask my stupid question.

Is this something that I should do - it looks simple enough, although I'm thinking that the serpentine belt could pose a challenge. Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Mike

It is a very simple swap. If you've not done it yet, this might also be a good time to swap in the around-the-belt top radiator hose (do the 97's route that hose through the belt?) and replace the serpentine belt. I typically keep the old belt in the vehicle as a spare. Murphy's Law pretty much guarantees that the belt will break when all the parts stores are closed.

-Brian

[Stroken n Smoken]

Mike, I replaced my alternator and all is good no more flickering light and batteries getting a good charge. The funny thing was I had checked mine before I changed my batteries and after and it had checked out good, I checked it myself and had a shop check it out too. I had mine swaped out and back running in 15 minutes so it should be a easy job for ya good luck!

Doug