[93Blue]

Greetings,

I recently tuned-up my 93 Ford 3.0 Taurus. I replaced the spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor. The engine runs very smoothly and my mileage has improved tremendously. However, I notice the Battery Console warning light seems to be on all the time. I checked every electrical wiring around the plugs, cap, and rotor and I can't seem to find the culprit. Do you have any ideas what’s causing this battery warning light to go on all the time? Any constructive advice would be appreciated.

Regards,

93Blue

 

[baby sho]

when the battery light is on, it means your alternator is dead or the wire from the laternator voltage regulator to the light is broken.

Also could be the ALTernator fuse it out.

Brad

 

[Xee]

I just got a full tune-up as well and the battery light comes on intermittently too. But I know for a fact my alternator is kapoot (had it checked out a while back). Having a bad alternator causes all sorts of havoc. What I hate most is sometimes when I brake, the whole jerks (I'm guessing it's because of the brake lights putting more load on the alternator). Turning on my headlights or heater will do the same thing. And btw, I know it's not the battery because I got a new one less than a week ago.

 

[jj57]

Battery Light= Not Charging = Bad

I wouldn't drive it Anywhere, it will not go very far.

 

[saltlakedave]

Just an FYI because this goffy thing happened to my brothers 2000 se.

Car ran fine but whenever he would rev it or go over about 3200 rpms, the battery light would come on and the car would start hesitating. Car always charged fine.

Turns out the alt was fine, but the regulator was bad. Apparently when the regulator went bad and the rpms would rise (causeing more power output on the alternator) there is a fuse/switch of some sorts which senses this and cuts the excessive current.

Anyways.. just a thought.

 

[shoz123]

The Gen 1 and 2 Taurii had fuse links. One of thse might be blow.

 

[93Blue]

Greetings,

Thank you for all constructive suggestions. I replaced my alternator this weekend and the battery warning light went away. I did experience one symptom where I applied the brakes and the car jittered as user "Xee" described it as "Having a bad alternator causes all sorts of havoc...snip.. the whole jerks (I'm guessing it's because of the brake lights putting more load on the alternator)".

Well, I drove 80 miles to work this morning and the commute was pretty much uneventful. I am curious how my afternoon commute would be like.

Regards,
-93Blue

 

[silvapain]

the car stutters when braking because the RPM's of the car drop, and the voltage regulator isn't quick enough to compensate.

 

[shoz123]

If your car is acting that badly due to rpm drop and alternator output being lower you need a better battery and cables. IMHO

 

[Xee]

Originally posted by SHOZ123@Mar 22 2004, 11:26 AM
If your car is acting that badly due to rpm drop and alternator output being lower you need a better battery and cables. IMHO

The batter was just replaced two weeks ago. As for the cables, if you're talking about the ones going to the alternator . . . well, that can be issue . . .




But I took the alternator to be tested and the shop told me it needed to be replaced. So I'm going to try that first and if the problems still persist I'll see what can be done about the cables. (and yes, I know my engine bay desperately needs a cleaning)