I have a 97 Ford Escort Wagon that I recently pulled out of winter storage. The first time I put the battery back in it and fired it up the check battery light came on. I ran a few tests with a DVM and there is no voltage coming from the alternator. The car is completely running on the battery. I did some maintenance on it before putting it away for the winter last december and I always do a quick maintenance check of all fluids as well as doing a check of the voltage output from the alternator before storage and at the time it was putting out 13.4 volts. So between December and May it has gone from 13.4 volts to nothing. I checked the cables, grounds, batt clamps...everything seems fine, but I find it hard to believe that the alternator has just died from sitting. I removed it from the car this evening to inspect the brushes and those look to be in good condition as well. What else should I be looking at? I think the next step is to go get the alternator tested and rule that out.
97 Escort Wagon: No voltage from charging system
- Thread starter Mr_Accord
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You're on the right track. I'd think a brush was stuck from sitting and maybe whacking it would bring it back.
But take it for a bumpy ride to get tested, it'll test fine, then head back to the car and check its wiring, should be getting something at the field terminal(s). Could have a goofy ignition switch with corroded contact. Does everything else work, including the blower motor? (Blower motor "mutes" on start but works in IGN ON, like the alt.)
PS, any mice chewing wires?
I had a contour where the fuse for the idiot lights on the dash was blown and without a "battery" light it wouldn't charge, but yours works.
But take it for a bumpy ride to get tested, it'll test fine, then head back to the car and check its wiring, should be getting something at the field terminal(s). Could have a goofy ignition switch with corroded contact. Does everything else work, including the blower motor? (Blower motor "mutes" on start but works in IGN ON, like the alt.)
PS, any mice chewing wires?
I had a contour where the fuse for the idiot lights on the dash was blown and without a "battery" light it wouldn't charge, but yours works.
JHZR2
Staff member
SO the dash light that sometimes excites the alternator DID light up when you just restarted it?
What was the battery voltage before you tried to start it up? Did you keep a charger on it all winter?
If not you could have a real bad short in the battery that the little alternator just cant keep up with.
Hopefully no mice, but who knows?
What was the battery voltage before you tried to start it up? Did you keep a charger on it all winter?
If not you could have a real bad short in the battery that the little alternator just cant keep up with.
Hopefully no mice, but who knows?
Originally Posted By: eljefino
You're on the right track. I'd think a brush was stuck from sitting and maybe whacking it would bring it back.
But take it for a bumpy ride to get tested, it'll test fine, then head back to the car and check its wiring, should be getting something at the field terminal(s). Could have a goofy ignition switch with corroded contact. Does everything else work, including the blower motor? (Blower motor "mutes" on start but works in IGN ON, like the alt.)
PS, any mice chewing wires?
I had a contour where the fuse for the idiot lights on the dash was blown and without a "battery" light it wouldn't charge, but yours works.
Yeah everything works on the car, including the blower motor. Maybe I will look at the ign switch a bit more. I did give the casing a few taps with a hammer to see if the brushes were stuck while monitoring my dvm and nothing. Was there a hidden fuse for the charging system because I can't find in the fuse box by the battery. The only high amp fuse is the 100amp main and its good.
You're on the right track. I'd think a brush was stuck from sitting and maybe whacking it would bring it back.
But take it for a bumpy ride to get tested, it'll test fine, then head back to the car and check its wiring, should be getting something at the field terminal(s). Could have a goofy ignition switch with corroded contact. Does everything else work, including the blower motor? (Blower motor "mutes" on start but works in IGN ON, like the alt.)
PS, any mice chewing wires?
I had a contour where the fuse for the idiot lights on the dash was blown and without a "battery" light it wouldn't charge, but yours works.
Yeah everything works on the car, including the blower motor. Maybe I will look at the ign switch a bit more. I did give the casing a few taps with a hammer to see if the brushes were stuck while monitoring my dvm and nothing. Was there a hidden fuse for the charging system because I can't find in the fuse box by the battery. The only high amp fuse is the 100amp main and its good.
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Originally Posted By: JHZR2
SO the dash light that sometimes excites the alternator DID light up when you just restarted it?
What was the battery voltage before you tried to start it up? Did you keep a charger on it all winter?
If not you could have a real bad short in the battery that the little alternator just cant keep up with.
Hopefully no mice, but who knows?
Yes the light comes on every time. The battery is only a year old and was kept on a ctek maintainer all winter. I also did a load test and it was fine. It holds a charge.
SO the dash light that sometimes excites the alternator DID light up when you just restarted it?
What was the battery voltage before you tried to start it up? Did you keep a charger on it all winter?
If not you could have a real bad short in the battery that the little alternator just cant keep up with.
Hopefully no mice, but who knows?
Yes the light comes on every time. The battery is only a year old and was kept on a ctek maintainer all winter. I also did a load test and it was fine. It holds a charge.
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I also think you have a bad connection at or inside the alternator sue to corrosion. Running the engine might help.
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