Fix Or Repair Daily

Went to leave daycare today with a load of kids in the 2013 Ford Flex...

The flex sat for a week while we were on vacation rove it to work Monday, might have had a charging system warning when I got home. my Wife drove it to work Tuesday. It sat Wednesday. Then I drove it to daycare and hit McDonald's drive thru on the way home.

I drove it around the block to the backyard for an oil change. Then left the back yard to get the kids from daycare. No issues. Fired it up to leave daycare and got a charging system error and power steering error. No assist what so ever. Turned it off and on again. It did the same. Returned the Littles to daycare and made a mile journey to swap cars and it did the same. Charging system error. Power steering error. It was able to be muscled (lots of training from the CJ) then the stability was disabled due to low battery followed by ABS due to low battery then auxiliary systems disabled due to low battery.

I'm about to fire it up again and head to the store for an alternator and battery test. Wish me luck.

 

Alternator is on it's last leg, only 11v with ac blowing front n rear, radiator fans on high and turning with the electric power steering. I got a 200A alternator (towing and police) instead of the 175A since it was in stock and minimal extra cost.

 

Jimminy! I remember when 30 amps was plenty.

In fact I have my '34 Ford set to about 12A maximum.

 

The loads on the new stuff is crazy. Mine is as simple as they come being an SE and before auto start. The highest trim 2019 with ecoboost the big sunroof and tow package is not on my list of desires.
This car has always dimmed it's headlights a little when the radiator fans kick on. I suspect it's been on the way out for quite some time.

 

OTH, it seems alternators are being designed to be less capable. Ones I've bought lately came with a warning, to not attempt charging a dead battery. That's nuts.

 

I still say that is nuts.

 

I don't think the alternators have changed just the warranty coverage.

In other news, this alternator is gonna be a pain to physically remove. I got all the wires off and the mounting bolts are decently accessible but it's a 6" diameter rock between a cylinder head, engine block, ac compressor, frame rail, exhaust manifold, and radiator. Each has a 5" clearance.