Garage checked the charging system after a charge the battery was getting 12.5

Tiny
BOBC123
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 MERCURY COUGAR
  • 2.5L
  • V6
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 167,000 MILES
So where do I start my daughter bought a new car so we're going to sell this one. So I drove about 70 miles back to the city To put it up for sale I parked the car overnight when to take the car to vacuum and clean up the windows and noticed on the drive the gauges were not working. So I turned the car off started cleaning and when I got done the car would not start, jumped it off barely made it back to the garage checked the charging system after a charge the battery was getting 12.5 with the car off started FINE but still no gauges checked the voltage at the batteries started off at 12.1 and slowly started decreasing when it got down to 6.75 volts the car died. So I changed the alternator checked all of the grounds mega fuse I have continuity From the battery to the alternator change the battery and still no gauges same problem after running three or 4 minutes if that the volts drop. Checked Volts at the back of the alternator same issue volts steady drop off change the alternator again same issue and still no gauges, the dashboard lights up but no pre ignition warning lights illuminate nothing the gauges don't sweep I'm going crazy please help
Thursday, June 18th, 2015 AT 2:00 AM

4 Replies

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,555 POSTS
Connect a battery jumper cable from the negative battery post to a good ground on the chassis NOT the engine. See if the problem changes. If it goes away install a replacement engine to body ground strap. It sounds like the alternator is bad but to be sure lets test it by following these videos and guides.

https://youtu.be/Z-p4dMJUpUw

and

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Let us know what happens and please upload pictures or videos of the problem.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2015 AT 2:36 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check the fuse in pic and the ground wire to alternator at left firewall make sure it's tight and clean. Then check to see if the pcm is telling the alternator to turn on it may not be. Finally have battery tested for condition including load test. Make sure battery is charged however, most places do for free
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Thursday, June 18th, 2015 AT 6:22 AM
Tiny
BOBC123
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I did and same thing.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2015 AT 8:21 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Was the pcm sending a signal to the alternator as well? Check for poor connections at alternator move harness as it's running an d see if charge indicator goes out or battery reads over 13 volts. Also check belt and tensioner, recommended replacement for both is 60,000 miles. That may be slipping or worn out. There is a special gauge that needs to be used for that.
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Thursday, June 18th, 2015 AT 9:31 AM

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