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Ford Ranger battery or alternator issue?? No accessories

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Old Dec 6, 2017
  #1  
Chandlermcm's Avatar
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From: New River, AZ
Icon8 Ford Ranger battery or alternator issue?? No accessories

First off, I suspected my battery was getting ready to go when I left my lights on for 2 minutes and needed a jump. My biggest concern now is that one morning I got in it and it started fine, but I noticed my dome interior light was not working upon opening the door and the switch, there was no more chime or beeping from key in ignition, seatbelt warning, or the beeping from leaving your lights on with the truck off, AND my windshield wipers don't work. So all of these accessories just stopped working one morning and haven't worked since. I checked all the fuses and they're good. Not sure if a bad battery or alternator can cause this. If everyone has ever had this issue please let me know how you fixed it.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2017
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RonD's Avatar
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Welcome to the forum

I assume you have a Ford Ranger but what year and engine?

Get a Volt Meter
A good battery will show 12.3 to 12.8volts after sitting overnight, or at least 4 hours.
12.8v is a new battery
12.5v is about 3 year old battery
12.3v is 5 to 6 years old and time to look for battery sale

12.2v or lower won't last much longer

If you test battery voltage and it is slowly dropping then it has an internal short
Unhook one battery cable from truck and test again, if still dropping even slowly it confirms internal short, battery is bad.

Start engine
Battery voltage should now be above 14volts, but under 15volts
This is the alternator and voltage regulator working, it is ReCharging Battery
After a few minutes that voltage should drop to 13.5v approximately, under 14volts for sure, this lower voltage keeps battery charged but won't "cook it", above 14volts will "cook" a 12volt battery long term.

If voltage with engine running(idling) is not above 13.5volts then voltage regulator inside the alternator may be stuck in low voltage or 2 fields in the alternator are bad, replace alternator.

1995 and up Rangers used a GEM module to run Cab Electrics, in mid-2000's they used Smart Junction box instead, so year is important for the rest of your symptoms.
 
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Old Dec 6, 2017
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Chandlermcm's Avatar
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Update: it's a 2001 ranger 4.0 V6 4x4.
I just bought a new battery today and alternator is good. Could the drain of power or having it jumped blown the relays, module or voltage regulator? All fuses are good.

The things that suddenly stopped working are interior dome lights, windshield wipers and all the warning and normal chimes
 
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Old Dec 7, 2017
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RonD's Avatar
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Alternator is good?

You tested voltages yourself?

2001 will have GEM module, it is located behind the Radio
Check fuses 11, 20, and 26 in cab fuse box
Check = PULL THEM OUT

The cab buttons and switches do not control their respective devices directly.
All the button and switch wires run to the GEM(generic electronics module)
When you turn on the Wipers, for example, the GEM gets that "signal" from the wiper switch, it then activates the Wiper Relay.
When you open a door the door switch sends Ground to GEM and GEM actives Dome light.
If you leave key in ignition and open the door GEM sees Ground from key and door and turns on Chime

So it all runs thru the GEM

See if the Glove Box light is working, it is not connected to GEM, about the only light that isn't, lol.

If it isn't then Battery Saver Relay could be the problem, it cuts power to interior and exterior lights after about 20-30 minutes of Key OFF, to prevent battery being drained by lights that were left on.
These never fail but..................
And GEM controls Battery Saver Relay............

If glove box light works then Battery Saver Relay works
 
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