battery or alternator

2004 FORD MUSTANG
6 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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DYLANJFIELDS
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  • 1 POST
My car has been working fine the last couple of weeks but today when i was driving it it started to die according to the meter and then just quit after all the battery juice was gone then i got a jump and it died almost immediatley
Aug 13, 2011 at 6:05 AM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 34,321 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Generator is not recharging the battery. Use an inexpensive digital voltmeter to measure the battery voltage with the engine off and with it running. A fully charged battery will measure 12.6 volts. A good but discharged one will read closer to 12.0 volts.

With the engine running, the voltage must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it's low, measure the voltages on the back of the generator by back-probing the wires through the rubber seals. Holler back with those numbers.
Aug 13, 2011 at 6:17 AM
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