electrical load and low idle

M

mnstanggt

New Member

Dec 7, 2009

31

0

0

mn

Dec 17, 2009

#1

• Dec 17, 2009

• #1

I have started to notice my idle drops alot if i turn my headlights on or rear defrost. it doesnt drop then come back up it stays low with these on.
the car idles smooth normally but when it drops like that it i starts misfiring, all my lights seem dim lately
cant figure it out battery tested at 12.6v and alternator was 16.4v i cleaned my grounds and connections, cant find firewall to engine ground though, dont know if that would cause anything

 

BlackVert

15 Year Member

Oct 3, 2003

5,589

9

98

Bethesda, MD

Dec 17, 2009

#2

• Dec 17, 2009

• #2

do you have underdrive pulleys?

 

M

mnstanggt

New Member

Dec 7, 2009

31

0

0

mn

Dec 17, 2009

#3

• Dec 17, 2009

• #3

nope engine is completely stock

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

34

129

Dec 17, 2009

#4

• Dec 17, 2009

• #4

Does it happen more with a hot or cold engine?

FWIW, an alt testing at 16.4V should have failed. You're running the risk of blowing bulbs.

 

F

fordtech28

Member

May 12, 2006

312

0

17

Riverside Cali.

Dec 17, 2009

#5

• Dec 17, 2009

• #5

you mention the alternator giving you a reading of 16.4V if I recall thats too high and the alternator will stop charging if it goes up too high which would cause your issue somebody correct me if im wrong I think the highest I seen an alternator charge is 14.6V check all your grounds this would cause this voltage reading

 

M

mnstanggt

New Member

Dec 7, 2009

31

0

0

mn

Dec 17, 2009

#6

• Dec 17, 2009

• #6

hot and cold actually my idle stays normal during the day when im not using the lights or anything, ill have tests done again i guess maybe the place i took it messed up or something

 

Car Nut

Founding Member

Jul 6, 2000

1,176

1

37

Snellville, Georgia (Atlanta area)

Dec 17, 2009

#7

• Dec 17, 2009

• #7

Voltage regulator maybe messed up?

There is a silly ground mesh cable that Ford installed on our cars from the frame to engine. Replace this with a short negative battery cable (check the length first) and that will improve things even if it doesn't solve this specific problem. I also ran another ground cable from the battery to the front radiator support area. No problems since.

I've had similar issues a few years ago as you mention, but cleaning all the grounds cleared it up. I did not have the high alt voltage you mention, so that may by your sole culprit.

The ground cables I mentioned above may seem like overkill or wasted time/money, but I promise those few dollars go a long way. Electrical problems are never fun for me.

Good luck.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

34

129

Dec 17, 2009

#8

• Dec 17, 2009

• #8

fordtech28 said:

you mention the alternator giving you a reading of 16.4V if I recall thats too high and the alternator will stop charging if it goes up too high which would cause your issue somebody correct me if im wrong I think the highest I seen an alternator charge is 14.6V check all your grounds this would cause this voltage reading

Click to expand...

The alt won't stop charging if the regulator is bad (which is why it would have such a high output). The battery light should illuminate however.

 

M

mnstanggt

New Member

Dec 7, 2009

31

0

0

mn

Dec 17, 2009

#9

• Dec 17, 2009

• #9

something else ive noticed is the car rolls over alot slower than it use to hot or cold

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

34

129

Dec 17, 2009

#10

• Dec 17, 2009

• #10

mnstanggt said:

something else ive noticed is the car rolls over alot slower than it use to hot or cold

Click to expand...

All the more reason to have the components tested again. Or have a dynamic test done (with the components in the car).

Your battery might have an issue (like a bad cell) so the alt is trying its best to charge it up at all times (the high output voltage), but the battery itself is deficient. This contradicts the 12.6V you saw on your battery (unless this was a freshly charged battery, in which case it is low).