Greetings all,
I am having an issue with my 1997 Ford Ranger's "check battery" symbol not going off and showing mid-low battery strength. Here's the history

On Saturday I hooked up a small compressor to inflate two bicycle batteries (with the car turned on, but engine not running).
On Sunday the wife drove about 3 miles, but noticed the "check battery symbol".
On Monday drove to work (about ten miles) total and into town (about 40 miles total) and bought a battery charger. Charged battery for about 2.5 hours until the charger said "Battery Fully Charged". However immediately after unplugging the charger the symbol is still there and the strength still remains at mid-low.
The thing that I am puzzled about is how I have yet to have any real problems YET. Tonight I am going to use the "Alternator Check" that the charger I bought comes with. Anybody have any ideas what could be going on and what to do about it? I only have one vehicle so I want to tackle this before I end up getting stuck somewhere.

Thanks a lot I really appreciate (and am envious) of what you folks know and can do!
Brian

 

I think it might be the alternator... You might be getting that low battery strength because the battery is not charging and your truck is running off it...I had that same problem like a month ago had had to replace the alternator

 

Battery light has nothing to do with battery. Its for the alternator

crank truck and then unhook the battery cable. if it shuts off then its the alternator.

 

Will try that tonight. Thanks so so much.

BTW - I figure that replacing the alternator is not a tough job (one of those "remember what/how you remove stuff" to replace jobs). However do I really need to use a torque wrench and if so where can I find the torque specs for the alternator, etc...?

 

Torq wrench isnt necessary. very easy job but if you can find someone to release the tension while you pull the belt off i would advise it. Also dont trust parts store alternator machine. They told me mine was fine but turned out it wasn't.

 

Sorry to be such a noob but can you explain the how and why of your suggestion to find someone to release the tension. Thanks a lot

 

If you have a multi-meter you can check if the alternator is charging on the truck. It is much less work than pulling it off and bringing it somewhere. If you are going to remove it you have to take off the serpentine belt which requires relieving tension on the auto tensioner. You can use a serpentine belt tensionor tool or a 3/8" ratchet will work too, but may be harder because you don't have a lot of leverage.

 

Actually it requires a 15mm wrench for the tensioner. Or at least mine did.

 

not that this has anything to do with the post, but I thought it was funny. (emphasis mine, not in the original context):

 

LOL. I was so hopped on figuring this out....
So I found some local place that'll change it quite cheap and guarantee the work to boot..
I have an option for a used alternator for 50 bucks (30 day guarantee) and a new one for 119 (lifetime guarantee). It's a 97 and I don't expect that it has more than 10 more years in it, so should I go with the used???

 

just throw in a used one