Hello everyone,

Looking for some help here. I just bought this 1998 Ranger, and the battery light is on. The previous owner told me that it had been on for awhile she had the alternator tested and it was fine.

I put a new battery in it 3 days ago, and had the alternator tested again at Advance. All tests were good.

Battery measured 12.57 volts
Alternator measured 14.57 volts / 12.9 amps with no load and 14.52 volts / 11.4 amps with load.

The light will flicker when I rev the engine and while driving, but is on constantly at idle.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

anyone? hoping to get somewhere on this before monday.. :-\

 

bump,

still looking for help..

 

Check all the grounds and battery cables for looseness, corrison or lots of dirt.

 

Check those battery terminal connections. A little corrosion between the contacts will do that. I have one of those gold plated positive terminal adapters that let you connect stereo equipment and other aux equipment on it on my 01. Under acceleration my battery light would flicker, until I cleaned the positive connection. Sprinkle a little baking soda over the connections and battery top to neutralize any battery acid or corrosive materials present. Then use a terminal cleaner (or wire brush) to clean the posts. Wipe up all the debris and clean the battery surface. Reconnect everything and that battery light won't return ( assuming your battery is in good working order as well as the alternator.)

 

Also check to make sure that the little the little bottom gray connector with the single white wiring is plugged in. When I installed my new alt I forgot to fully press it in and it did the same thing. You can see it in this picture

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The battery is brand new, and I put new terminals on the positive and negative cables. No corrosion whatsoever on this battery.

Some of the other ground wires might be another story. Is there one I need to look at specifically?

I'll check that grey wire today.

 

That little grey connector is your issue.

How did you measure amps? Most DMM's only do 10.

 

Thanks so much!

I push the connector in a little, and it moved about a 1/4 inch and now the problem is gone. It isn't real snug so I'm guessing it will work its way loose again. If it's not connected is the alternator not charging?

Advance Auto measured the volts and amps with their machine. It gives a printout with a graph and those were the numbers they gave me.

 

If you haven't had a dead battery with the light on then its charging. A volt meter will tell you for sure.

12.5+ is good

I have a volt meter in my truck all the time.