First, I want to say to all the kind folks here who've helped me out over the years with diagnosing my truck's problems. Your help has saved me hundreds of dollars and made me become a better mechanic. Diesel Garage Rules!
Okay, here's the background & "symptoms":
-I have two new 750 cranking amp batts from Advance in my 2000 F-250 2WD 7.3L crewcab Lariat pickup. One new in January and one new earlier this month. The batt replaced this month was putting out only 165 CCA and Advance was great in honoring the warranty and giving me a no-charge exchange. Prior to this month's batt exchange, my truck was having constant starting problems. I'd have to either charge the batts or drive it around a while to charge 'em up.
-I had no starting problems for three weeks but this Sunday I hopped in my truck to go fishin'. But all I got was a click-click-click. Wouldnt start. Got out the jumpbox and got Ol' Blue going. Nothing stopping me from my fishin', dangit. I got bait at the bait & tackle store and got the click-click again. Jumped it and this time checked the terminals. The right-side pos terminal was loose (my bad) and I cleaned & tightened it down good with a wrench. I reckoned the drive to the boat ramp would bring the batt up to speed.
-I come back from fishin' four hours later with a box full of big ol' Sheepshead and I get the click-click-click again! wth? JumpBoxed it. (best $40 bucks I ever spent at Harbor Freight)
-here's where it gets weird. I'm on the way to the tackle store to weigh-in a big fish for a tournament I'm entered in. I happen to look down at the dash gauges and they are all deadlined! wth? I keep driving and notice the needles keep flickering - jump back to life for a second then deadline again. Oh s**t.
Just as I pull up to the bait store, I hit the turn signal and the engine DIED while I was still moving. Coasted in..... Uh-oh.
-Guy at the store has a 2002 F-250 7.3L and he suggested cam sensor. Just so happens I have one in my glovebox! Ford had replaced my cam sensor a few years back during the recall. I also made sure to buy a new model cam sensor as a spare just in case. I worm under the truck and changed out the cam sensor. John jumps my truck and about 5 minutes later while idling and we're talking, the dang truck dies again. Oh hell, it ain't the cam sensor.
-we're both thinking alternator now so John gets out the jumpers and we give Ol' Blue a good charge for a good 15 minutes. Then I turned everything electrical off (windows up and no A/C in 95 degree heat. Lotsa fun!) and hauled a** for home 15 miles away. Just the occasional braking for stoplights saw the voltmeter gauge creeping lower and lower....uh-oh. Just as I backed into my parking spot at home, she dies again.
Batts: new in January 2014 and early May 2014
Glow Plug Relay: new in March 2013
Alternator & Serp Belt: replaced (reman?) in 9/2011. Warranty expired. Repair shop did the install. Got me good too - $600 for a reman alternator and a serp belt. If I'd know better at the time I could have done it myself for $275 and a sixpack of beer.
Starter Motor: replaced in July 2013
Supertuner Chip: basic chip, towing option, June 2009.
I have no problem with replacing the alternator myself. But I dont want to buy an alternator and waste money if that's not the cause of this latest problem.
HELP!
Mark
Louisiana
Okay, here's the background & "symptoms":
-I have two new 750 cranking amp batts from Advance in my 2000 F-250 2WD 7.3L crewcab Lariat pickup. One new in January and one new earlier this month. The batt replaced this month was putting out only 165 CCA and Advance was great in honoring the warranty and giving me a no-charge exchange. Prior to this month's batt exchange, my truck was having constant starting problems. I'd have to either charge the batts or drive it around a while to charge 'em up.
-I had no starting problems for three weeks but this Sunday I hopped in my truck to go fishin'. But all I got was a click-click-click. Wouldnt start. Got out the jumpbox and got Ol' Blue going. Nothing stopping me from my fishin', dangit. I got bait at the bait & tackle store and got the click-click again. Jumped it and this time checked the terminals. The right-side pos terminal was loose (my bad) and I cleaned & tightened it down good with a wrench. I reckoned the drive to the boat ramp would bring the batt up to speed.
-I come back from fishin' four hours later with a box full of big ol' Sheepshead and I get the click-click-click again! wth? JumpBoxed it. (best $40 bucks I ever spent at Harbor Freight)
-here's where it gets weird. I'm on the way to the tackle store to weigh-in a big fish for a tournament I'm entered in. I happen to look down at the dash gauges and they are all deadlined! wth? I keep driving and notice the needles keep flickering - jump back to life for a second then deadline again. Oh s**t.
Just as I pull up to the bait store, I hit the turn signal and the engine DIED while I was still moving. Coasted in..... Uh-oh.
-Guy at the store has a 2002 F-250 7.3L and he suggested cam sensor. Just so happens I have one in my glovebox! Ford had replaced my cam sensor a few years back during the recall. I also made sure to buy a new model cam sensor as a spare just in case. I worm under the truck and changed out the cam sensor. John jumps my truck and about 5 minutes later while idling and we're talking, the dang truck dies again. Oh hell, it ain't the cam sensor.
-we're both thinking alternator now so John gets out the jumpers and we give Ol' Blue a good charge for a good 15 minutes. Then I turned everything electrical off (windows up and no A/C in 95 degree heat. Lotsa fun!) and hauled a** for home 15 miles away. Just the occasional braking for stoplights saw the voltmeter gauge creeping lower and lower....uh-oh. Just as I backed into my parking spot at home, she dies again.
Batts: new in January 2014 and early May 2014
Glow Plug Relay: new in March 2013
Alternator & Serp Belt: replaced (reman?) in 9/2011. Warranty expired. Repair shop did the install. Got me good too - $600 for a reman alternator and a serp belt. If I'd know better at the time I could have done it myself for $275 and a sixpack of beer.
Starter Motor: replaced in July 2013
Supertuner Chip: basic chip, towing option, June 2009.
I have no problem with replacing the alternator myself. But I dont want to buy an alternator and waste money if that's not the cause of this latest problem.
HELP!
Mark
Louisiana