Ford F150 charging system trivia

[Seahawk12]

This weekend while helping family put in a new post and beam support system on a newly acquired cabin out by Quinault my battery warning console light turned on.

We left in two trucks at 6am Saturday morning. The 3 hour drive went without a hitch. No issues at all. On Sunday morning I got up and decided to run a few miles down the road to a little store and pick up some Gatorade and soda for the days work and after driving a half mile or so the light came on and the indicator started to slowly drop. I turned around and went back to the cabin.
We were 40 miles from the nearest auto parts store which we took my battery and alternator to in order to have have tested. The alternator failed and the battery passed. I bought a new alternator, drove back, put it all back together and it was a no go. Light was still on and the indicator showed it was still losing a charge.
Yesterday I decided to drive it into town and made it 20 miles before the battery had dropped to empty, so I put in a deep cycle boat battery I had with me and that got me to the auto parts store and then the rest of the way home.
Today I did some reading and found the solution.
So, who can guess why my charging system wouldn't work with a good battery and a brand new alternator and with every connection gone through, cleaned up, and treated with dielectric gel?

[Woodchuck]

An open circuit protection device?

[CP]

Fuse link between the alternator and the battery?

[jackelope]

What year is the truck?

Generator field not switching in the PCM?

[coachcw]

more info please

[Seahawk12]

2001 ford F150 with 4wd.
It wasn't the fusable link.

[Russ McDonald]

Did you forget to put the second wire on the alternator that is connected to the bottom?   

[Seahawk12]

An open circuit protection device?

I believe we have a winner!! An open circuit protection device is a fancy way of saying fuse.
Within the power distribution box in the engine compartment is a 20 amp "Alternator field" fuse.
I've worked on a few charging systems in my life, but I had never had to change that particular fuse. For some reason I had it in my mind that if the fuse had gone then I wouldn't have had the indicator in the console working at all. This morning I decided to take a look just to cover all the bases before going into checking the whole thing with a multi-meter to find a short. Wish I had Woodchuck along with me!
All the stress of making that drive back home on a marine battery and it was a $.50 fix.

[Woodchuck]

An open circuit protection device?

I believe we have a winner!! An open circuit protection device is a fancy way of saying fuse.
Within the power distribution box in the engine compartment is a 20 amp "Alternator field" fuse.
I've worked on a few charging systems in my life, but I had never had to change that particular fuse. For some reason I had it in my mind that if the fuse had gone then I wouldn't have had the indicator in the console working at all. This morning I decided to take a look just to cover all the bases before going into checking the whole thing with a multi-meter to find a short. Wish I had Woodchuck along with me!
All the stress of making that drive back home on a marine battery and it was a $.50 fix.

What did I win? 
It is actually more common that a person might guess. There is something to be said for the acronym "KISS" 

[Seahawk12]

An open circuit protection device?

I believe we have a winner!! An open circuit protection device is a fancy way of saying fuse.
Within the power distribution box in the engine compartment is a 20 amp "Alternator field" fuse.
I've worked on a few charging systems in my life, but I had never had to change that particular fuse. For some reason I had it in my mind that if the fuse had gone then I wouldn't have had the indicator in the console working at all. This morning I decided to take a look just to cover all the bases before going into checking the whole thing with a multi-meter to find a short. Wish I had Woodchuck along with me!
All the stress of making that drive back home on a marine battery and it was a $.50 fix.

What did I win? 
It is actually more common that a person might guess. There is something to be said for the acronym "KISS" 

You win the title of "Better Mechanic Than Seahawk12"! 
For whatever that's worth. 
Although, to be fair I had the guys at both O'Reillys and Auto Zone perplexed.

[Woodchuck]

  Woo hoo, I done hit the bigtime. 

[jackelope]

Woo hoo, I done hit the bigtime. 

Jimmy Bigtime.

 

[GrainfedMuley]

I just had the same problem in a 97 Ford F-150. But just the alternator. It worked fine one day and then the very next morning, it would not charge. I made a 4 mile run to the store and by the time I got back, I barely made it to the driveway. I did not have a fuse problem though. Put in  a new alternator and everything was fine. Remember guys, EVERYTHING man made will wear out sooner or later. Before I changed the alternator, Checked that fuse. It was in a box on the firewall marked main ignition fuse. A simple ohm meter told me the fuse was OK.

[Odell]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I wish I would have seen them earlier. I jumped it and only made it two more miles and got a tow.

Hightailing it back to the shop to check that fuse.


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[Odell]

This what is left at the campground. I hear they are still having fun without me.


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[Happy Gilmore]

I've had two issues with my F-350 2002. One, alt went out. Easy replace. Week later wont start. Bad alt / batteries went at same time. Maybe coincidence maybe poor alt for a long time killed batteries. Put in two new Costco batteries. Year later, batteries dead. Took back to Costco and they gave me two brand new batteries now questions asked. Two weeks later, alt goes out😊 lifetime warrantyat Napa get a new one. Week later alt goes out again. Napa, get a new one. At this point, I can change an alternator on an f 350 psd in 7 minutes in the Napa parking lot. Another week later that one goes tits up. That was in 2010 I think. Not a problem with batteries or alt since then.