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11-19-2009, 09:02 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 1,228
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Intermittant battery problem (charging)
So here is the deal. The dash battery light in our 04 PSD SMB flickers on and off all the time, sometimes staying on for several minutes. When it is illuminated the dash gauge shows low voltage and the house battery and the starting batteries are not being charged (checked with a voltage meter). The light flickers very rapidly as if it is a loose connection somewhere. So, where to start? Alternator wiring or starting battery wiring?
Thanks,
Josh
__________________
Desert Solitaire
2003 7.3L EB 4x4
Timberline 4x4 conversion
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11-19-2009, 10:18 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
Alternator. Could even be a bad regulator inside the alternator. If the wiring at the battery was loose, the alternator would keep the voltage up.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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11-19-2009, 12:14 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
Yes, I am having similar problems and after combing the forum on these electrical issues, I'm developing a serious case of buyer's remorse. I've had the aternator replaced, two new batteries, new inginition stem, all to fix a problem that came back 130 miles later. Ford is claiming the cabin battery and equipment is causing the problem. I'm claiming Ford miswired something when they changed the alternator.
2004 RB350 Diesel
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11-19-2009, 01:44 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
It is simple enough to disconnect the camper from the van electrical system. The only connection is at the battery separator. Take the large cable from the van off the separator and carefully insulate it. See if the symptoms go away or not.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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11-20-2009, 08:36 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 17
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
Thank you for the advice about the "separator." The owner's manual is pretty general about that; where might I find it on an 2004 RB350 Diesel?
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11-20-2009, 10:02 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
Location can vary depending on floorplan. Mine is under the hood, beneath the coolant reservoir.
I've seen them under a couch at the rear of a van.
Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
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11-20-2009, 03:29 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Beaverton, OR
Posts: 2,506
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
Also in 2004 SMB went to separator from a isolator. It is possible if you had a early 2004 build that it has a isolator. The link below is for the separator they use, they also sell isolators I believe they have descriptions of both on their web-page
http://www.surepower.com/
Greg
__________________
-greg
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"Goldilocks" 2020 Ford Transit High Roof Extended 3.5 EcoBoost AWD Homebuilt
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11-21-2009, 07:55 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 1,228
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
After checking all the conections today I was unable to find the cause of my intermittant(more like constant) problem. It has to be an issue with the alternator.
__________________
Desert Solitaire
2003 7.3L EB 4x4
Timberline 4x4 conversion
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11-22-2009, 12:36 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Clovis, CA
Posts: 200
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
One connection that I've found loose before, and causing a similar problem, was on the large cables at the Ford Power Distribution Box under the hood. You have to remove both the large cover and small cover on the box to access the 10mm nuts securing these cables.
May not be the problem, but easy enough to check.
Good Luck!
John K.
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11-22-2009, 06:43 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Western Colorado
Posts: 1,228
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Re: Intermittant battery problem (charging)
Thanks, I'll give that a check.
__________________
Desert Solitaire
2003 7.3L EB 4x4
Timberline 4x4 conversion
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