Very stock 60 F-100 with 223 ci engine. It's still got the generator. Had to jump it off this morning to go to a car show an hour away. It wasn't dead but it needed help starting. Drive it 50 minutes to the car show. Registered and it was dead as a door nail. I did bring my jumper pack. The generator light has always worked. And It didn't come on at any time. It's just not charging the battery. The battery is about 6 months old. Anything besides the obvious to check? Newer battery is in it. Nice clean and tight terminals Thanks guys.
I'm in the middle of nowhere really. I just told My wife ... we have 3 multimeters at the shop! Ahhh the joys of driving these old girls.
You could try polarizing the generator for shits & grins. Remove the BAT & FLD terminals from the regulator (engine OFF) and touch them together for a second. May see a spark, not a cause for concern.
I always pluck the negative terminal off when I store it in the shop. I just read about polarizing. Is there a chance I could reverse it and make it backwards ? Worth a try. Thanks.
Probably not. Sometimes if they sit for a long time, they can "lose" polarization, I guess. Probably take years. Stranger things have happened. Won't cost anything though, no special tools required. The only time polarization is "supposed" to be needed, is when the generator has been disassembled. Not for example, when simply disconnecting the battery. But it can't hurt anything. Make sure belt is tight, and all wires and connections are clean and tight to include regulator. It needs a good solid ground path itself. Does the GEN light illuminate when turning the key to the first position? I can't recall if this is the case, but it may be that if the bulb is burned out, it won't charge. Don't quote me on that.
Some regulators need to be polarized too once replaced. I disconnect every time I put the Packard away and it hasn't lost it's polarization. I'm thinking generator here, and I recommend a volt or amp meter in the truck afterward so you always know. The bulb idea is interesting. Anything's possible. I had a 3rd brakelight bulb go bad in an O/T car. No cruise control or A/C, and THAT was the issue. It took weeks to figure that one out. Who'da thunk?
Yeah I knew better than to not pack my road kit. But it was last minute. I will jump it off with my pack and head towards the house after the show. And go as fast and far as I can. If I'm lucky I'll make it to an auto parts store.
Update. Used my jumper pack and it started. I wiggled all the wires. I fired it up and neve lifted until I got home. Showing 13.5 or so at a high idle. It cranked right up. So it sounds like something was loose. Not sure. Fixed itself for now. Thanks for the ideas.
Check voltage at 2000 with headlights on. 13.5 is pretty low, though the battery is probably hammered. Be sure to charge it at home overnight on a good 5 or 6 amps.
Hard to guess. I bought 3 bad batteries in a row a couple of summers ago. They would not carry the amps even though they showed a full charge. The even tested good. All three lasted about 3 months. But you could not be charging and your light never come on especially if it is burnt out. or you could have a bad battery cable or a bad regulator, or you could need new brushes and cleaning the end of the armature.
I have had brushes stick in the holder. First time it happened I took the generator apart to see it. After that I learned to reach inside and flick the springs a couple times with a screwdriver. That one vehicle would do it to me every once in a while.
If the cables are old it's possible that they are corroded on the inside of the outer cover. Seen that many times. Sent from my Moto G Play using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Thanks guys. What voltage should a generator charge? I'm familiar with alternators. 13.5 or 13.6 and it wasn't erratic. It restarted very easily once it was back in the shop. The cables are new. The battery is 2 months old and charged. I dunno. Maybe I'll test it with the lights on at a fast idle and see what I get.
I just finally figured out a hot start problem on my OT 1 ton a couple of weeks ago and I am always the one who says "check the grounds" end of the ground strap terminal was broke and what was left had arced so many times it wasn't making good contact. Finally found it when I tried to crank it with the hood open and could look across the top of the engine and see it smoke while I was cranking it. New cable end and clean up the contact area and a new bolt and so far so good. 13.5 might be about what you could expect at a hot idle with generator though.
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