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  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech

bad alternator?

  • Thread starter Thread starter milewsky80
  • Start date Start date May 23, 2005

milewsky80

Member
Nov 25, 2004
69
0
6
Weirton, WV
May 23, 2005
#1
  • May 23, 2005
  • #1
Sometimes while driving my car the radio will cut out and the lights will dim really low. Then when the radio turns back on all the radio presets are erased and all the bass/treble settings are gone. Could this be a sign of a dying alternator or maybe a bad ground somewhere? I was thinking a short at first but no fuses blow. The past two times it has happened, it was raining. Thought I'd throw that out there and see if maybe that could be a cause.
 
M

MadHandle8169

Founding Member
May 5, 2002
432
0
0
Brick, NJ
May 24, 2005
#2
  • May 24, 2005
  • #2
Could be that our maybe your battery cables are loose. When you unplug the battery I know it erases all the saved stations.
 

94GTLaserRC

Squint as you approach, lest you be blinded by my
15 Year Member
May 7, 2002
11,178
13
89
Ernan Says "here it comes... dushbag"
May 24, 2005
#3
  • May 24, 2005
  • #3
Sounds more like the battery/cables.

Your alternator cannot charge a lousy battery.

Walmart has the combo battery charger/alt tester for I think $39...I think it's worth it.

BTW..Welcome to Stangnet.!!

RC
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
May 24, 2005
#4
  • May 24, 2005
  • #4
Good advice so far.

do you have other components that require constant power to retain their memory (dash clock, etc)? if so, do they lose power (memory) also? If not, I would be lookin at the actual stereo circuit itself. there is constant and key-on power to the deck.

good luck.
 

MysteryMachine

Active Member
Jun 21, 2003
1,835
2
39
Parkesburg, PA
May 24, 2005
#5
  • May 24, 2005
  • #5
yea clean your battery terminals and clamps check your wires see if that helps. If not you can always pull the alt and take it somewhere to get it checked for free. Worth the time getting it checked for 2 reasons 1. Saves you from buying a new one and that not being the problem 2. (BIG ONE) Getting stuck along side the road when it dies for good
 

milewsky80

Member
Nov 25, 2004
69
0
6
Weirton, WV
May 24, 2005
#6
  • May 24, 2005
  • #6
HISSIN50 said:
Good advice so far.

do you have other components that require constant power to retain their memory (dash clock, etc)? if so, do they lose power (memory) also? If not, I would be lookin at the actual stereo circuit itself. there is constant and key-on power to the deck.

good luck.
Click to expand...


The dash clock keeps its memory. I'm thinking there could be a bad connection at the headunit and/or the battery. It's weird that the radio loses settings but the clock doesn't. This is why I hate electrical problems
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
May 24, 2005
#7
  • May 24, 2005
  • #7
milewsky80 said:
The dash clock keeps its memory. I'm thinking there could be a bad connection at the headunit and/or the battery. It's weird that the radio loses settings but the clock doesn't. This is why I hate electrical problems
Click to expand...
I have not disconnected my battery yet, but if you normally lose the clock setting on the dash clock, this would suggest to me that your battery cables, etc are alright, and that like you said, it is a possible issue with the wiring for the headunit or constant 12 volt feed to the deck.

good luck.
 

MysteryMachine

Active Member
Jun 21, 2003
1,835
2
39
Parkesburg, PA
May 24, 2005
#8
  • May 24, 2005
  • #8
It could be getting a good enough connection for the clock and **** but just not for anything else batterys can be funny like that if their dirty. Its something to check and its an easy fix
 

milewsky80

Member
Nov 25, 2004
69
0
6
Weirton, WV
May 25, 2005
#9
  • May 25, 2005
  • #9
MysteryMachine said:
It could be getting a good enough connection for the clock and **** but just not for anything else batterys can be funny like that if their dirty. Its something to check and its an easy fix
Click to expand...


Well I had very little freetime today(brother graduated from 8th grade), but I still got around to cleaning the battery posts and cable ends with one of thoe battery terminal cleaner things. After doin that I made sure the cables were nice and tight. Driving tonight it didn't happen but it didn't rain and thats when the problem was showing itself. Thanks for the help this far and I'll get back to you guys if it happens after I check the headunit connections.
 

MysteryMachine

Active Member
Jun 21, 2003
1,835
2
39
Parkesburg, PA
May 25, 2005
#10
  • May 25, 2005
  • #10
lol splash some water on it see what happens JK glad it worked so far
 
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