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2001 Crown Vic Battery Charging Problems


InFuZiOn
05-27-2008, 04:59 PM
My crown's been having this problem recently where it doesnt seem like the alternator is getting a charge to the battery. The voltmeter sits way low like there's no return charge until I hit around 65-70 on the freeway and then it just jumps back up to where it should be but when I exit or go slower than that it drops back down to under half and continues to go lower and lower depending on if I have the radio on or not. Finally last night after driving to drop this girl off I slowed down enough to where my SRS, Anti-Lock Brakes, and the temp indicator lights all came on, my dash lights went completely out, and my headlights dimmed to barely being usable. After turning the car off it didnt even have enough power in the battery to crank the motor. Here's a list of everything I've replaced in the last month alone and the problem still persists.

In the last month alone I've replaced:
-Brand new professionally installed alternator
-New serpentine belt
-New Duralast Gold Battery
-Professionally rebuilt transmission
-New oil filter and oil
-New air filter

Anyone have any ideas as to what's causing this weird drain/alternator not charging? I'm tight on cash as it is and having to replace all these parts that still havent solved the problem is killing me.:banghead: Does anyone know of anything in particular that might be loose or disconnected I could check on first or really ANY help towards solving the problem would be of huge benefit to me!

Thanks so much,
-Blake

way2old
05-27-2008, 06:40 PM
Have the charging system checked at idle. If it does not charge at idle, raise the RPM and see if it will start charging. We ran into a lot of alternators that did the same thing on our fleet of CV's. If it starts charging at higher rpm's, have the people that installed the alternator warranty it for you.

InFuZiOn
05-29-2008, 02:52 AM
Found out the problem. Ending up going to where the car broke down and going over all the wiring from the battery out and from the alternator out. Ended up the plug for the alternator wasn't completely connected. The sad part is that I actually paid a shop $80 to install it because thats where I made it to when the old alternator went out and chewed up the serpentine belt :mad:

way2old
05-29-2008, 06:58 AM
Thanks for the fix post. Glad you got it going.

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