I have replaced the altenator for the third time and AutZone just checked the last one and I took off and said it was good and that I have an electrical problem. Any ideas or suggestions I am at my wi

480

Asked by ndavidn Jul 23, 2013 at 04:15 PM about the 2002 Ford Escape XLT AWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

!4 days ago when driving home the radio volume would go drop when I applied my brakes then it started running rough I did make it to my driveway. The next morning the battery had charged enough on its own to start the car but as soon as I turned on the headlights it died. I was told the altenator must be bad. I paid a mechanic $100 to replace it with an altenator I got from a junk yard. After it was installed it happened again. This ttime I went and bought a new altenator and had it put on last night again the same thing I took the old altentaor to Auto Zone and they tested it and said it was fine. Then they tested the new one I put one last night and told me I have an electrical issue. The battery and altenator are fine but its not charging my battery from the altenator. Can  someone please give me some advise of what to try next I am at my wits end.

26 Answers

58,565

PS: Don't try to charge a dead battery with the Alternator - you will damage the Alternator. Check continuity between the positive (large) post on the alternator and the positive side of the battery. There is a 100A fuse.

31 people found this helpful.
14,715

Disconnect the battery before doing any electrical work on the car. Then make sure your battery is fully charged before hooking it back up. You can burn out the diodes in the alternator within minutes if your battery is completly dead. alternators are only made to work with a good battery not to recharge one. It's too much strain on a new alternator. Also make sure you are grounded when changing out alternators. Static electricity can burnout an alternator in seconds. Did your mechanic do all of the above and correctly? Is it a qualified shop or a backyard mechanic? It could make a big difference. double check. Good Luck, Kenny/MrBlueOval

21 people found this helpful.
480

I got it fixed today I bet the altenator was not the issue from the beginning the wiring harness that went to the altenator had shorted out and the two wires had fuzed together. I replaced that and everything is fine. After $500 plus in parts and labor messing with altenators a $32 part took care of it. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

48 people found this helpful.
120

I am having the same problem i have to get a jump start in order for the car to crank. I took to autozone to charge battery and the lady told me its still low voltage..... So i dont know if i need to change my battery or my alternator

12 people found this helpful.
250

I've been having similar issues, my mechanic found that basically the alternator keeps thinking the battery is low & tries to charge it, but my battery is fully charged. He said it was in the wiring & has never seen that type of problem before, so he completely redid the wiring. (Ohh & the wires were starting to melt!) The problem started again last week, just had to wiggle the wires to get it to started but looked closer today & the fuse was melted!!!

25 people found this helpful.
200

Having this same issue. Where are the wires I️ need to wiggle? I️ am trying to charge my battery by sitting here letting it run. My whole electrical system is wacked out.

20 people found this helpful.
350

Why 2007 ford escape xlt alternator overcharging after replacing it with new alternator?

35 people found this helpful.
500

I have the same problem this my 3rd alternator and like 5 battery for my 2007 ford escape it keep over charging my battery what should I do help!!!!!!!!!

47 people found this helpful.
500

Ok thanks I'm making appointment tomorrow

3 people found this helpful.
190

Ford escape has an external voltage regulator that's the over charge problem

19 people found this helpful.
320

Ok I have an 06 Limited with 72k. The alternator went while I was driving home so she was towed to work. She sat for a month before I was able to get the new one put in. I put the battery on charge while I was working and one of my mechanic friends hooked a jump box up to make sure there was enough charge to make it the 15 miles to my friends work to do the alternator. After it was installed I noticed there was a power surge type of thing happening. All the lights would dim down even on the dash when power would drop. She never did this before so I am concerned something else went wrong when the alternator went. Any ideas to point me in the right direction would be appreciated.

32 people found this helpful.
55

mercury 2006 We have spent $800 just to find out it was a chewed wire, ford needs to put these in a steel casing or some kind of steel tubing to the alternator so this will not happen again My advice to anyone that has problems with a alternator and battery checked the wires because red squirrels chew the harnessing will save you a lot of money to start their first

5 people found this helpful.
170

I have a 2005 Escape. I replaced the alternator back in August. Seemed to run fine. on 11/8 the car turned over started, but the lights on the dash, the radio and all the power features went off. The battery was shot, AAA replaced the battery, it ran fine for 3 weeks. Then, the same problem happened again. The battery is dead, the voltage meter at auto zone said it was pumping out 17 volts. Help! My car is dead, and I need to bring it to a shop, I guess.

17 people found this helpful.
150

Ryan I have excatly the same problem right now did you manage to solve it ?

15 people found this helpful.
110

Check the 3 wires on the plug that plugs into the alternator. 1 of the wires is a voltage sensing wire and if it is broken or corroded then the alternator will charge at max capacity

11 people found this helpful.
250

I have a 2007 ford escape, experienced same problem while the car was on, it would show battery voltage low 12v on voltmeter and other times show up high 17v. It was caused by faulty ground wire, there are two grounds, one on the car body next to the battery and the other ground goes to engine. The engine one was corroded and not making good connection. Its was hard to find but hope this fixes your problems.

12 people found this helpful.
250

Please check your ground on the engine block, this was an easy fix that would save you a lot of money and headaches. It was not easy to find but once you find it, clean it up real good and tighten. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fyKizH_oQ8

13 people found this helpful.
40

had alternator go on my 07 escape, mechanic by trade. checked alternator, no voltage. bought ford reman. still not charging right. anywhere from 12 to 17 volts. headlights flashing, etc....took it back to dealer to exchange for another. same problem....took to a dealer to check out computer because computer regulates the voltage not like a normal one with a voltage regulator. no problem found with computer... dealer recommended change alternator again with aftermarket new....problem solved. sounds like ford has a problem with their rebuilder. cost me a lot of time and money to fix this. luckly i was friends with service manager and they only charged me 150 labor to do it.

4 people found this helpful.
290

I’m having an issue with my 2009 Escape. It’s running fine and next thing you know the battery light comes on. Then everything on the dash stops working lights everything. The RPM and speed drop to zero while you’re moving. The electric power steering also stops working. Any help would be great.

29 people found this helpful.
180

Any future issues with this try this. https://youtu.be/QxquNigmwtQ

11 people found this helpful.
180

Any future issues with this try this. https://youtu.be/QxquNigmwtQ

7 people found this helpful.
10

i un problème avec mon Escape 2009. Cela fonctionne bien et la prochaine chose que vous savez, le voyant de la batterie s'allume. Ensuite, tout sur le tableau de bord cesse de fonctionner, allume tout. Le régime et la vitesse tombent à zéro lorsque vous vous déplacez. La direction assistée électrique cesse également de fonctionner. Toute aide est la bienvenue

1 people found this helpful.
20

I would Absolutely recommend using motorcraft if replacing the alternator.

2 people found this helpful.
20

I just bought a 05 Ford Escape she has replaced the battery and alternator but the battery light is on and it will not let the battery stay charged I can charge it up and put it back on and go a mile or two down the road and it just dies please help me I am on dialysis and need to get it fixed ASAP

2 people found this helpful.
310,255

If none of the answers above helped, then a shop needs to look at it, could be a computer as the charging system is computer controlled.

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