03-04 Voltage woes...Ever heard of that, before?

[TurboJuice]

Ever heard of a termi with voltage issues....

I dont THINK this is the typical issue.

My car pretty much ever since i bought it in the spring has had pulsing dash lights and headlights. The glowing gauges obviously pulse in and out, pretty much all the time.

I never had any other problems until the other night. I was at RSD and had a race set up. I finished my burnout in the water box, then while pulling up to the line, I noticed my Battery light was on. Moments later it was off.

I continued with the race, but when i hit fourth the car started bucking and breaking up pretty badly. I would have said bad plugs, but i immediately guessed voltage was dropping. I do not have any logging information, I am just guessing at this point.

Jump to last night. The car runs well, but the lights pulse pretty bad. I am sure people can tell when looking at my headlights.

Battery voltage car off: 12.4
Battery voltage with all accessories on, car off after 5 minutes: 11.2

Volatge at battery terminals with car on, but cold: 14.5
Voltage at battery terminals with all accessories AND car engine is boiling hot: 14.1


Thoughts?

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[Zack]

How old is the battery?

 

[TurboJuice]

How old is the battery?

I couldn't say. It came with the car.

Could it still be a bad battery, even if the voltage while the car is running is 14+

 

[Zack]

I couldn't say. It came with the car.

Could it still be a bad battery, even if the voltage while the car is running is 14+

Oh hell yeah.
Go buy a Motorcraft BXT-850.
You will have to cut the battery tray but it fits in there nicely.

You should also get an upgraded battery cable if you dont already have one.

 

[TurboJuice]

Oh hell yeah.
Go buy a Motorcraft BXT-850.
You will have to cut the battery tray but it fits in there nicely.

You should also get an upgraded battery cable if you dont already have one.

A link to where I can buy? Or who has them locally? I found info on the 650 only.

What makes you recommend this battery. It seems like a huge battery and a big jump in amperage.

 

[nytebyte]

Oh hell yeah.
Go buy a Motorcraft BXT-850.
You will have to cut the battery tray but it fits in there nicely.

How much cutting exactly?

 

[Zack]

A link to where I can buy? Or who has them locally? I found info on the 650 only.

What makes you recommend this battery. It seems like a huge battery and a big jump in amperage.

I recommend it because more reserve capacity is never a bad thing! You buy it at the Ford Parts Counter

How much cutting exactly?

You have to trim the sides off the battery tray. Quite easy.
Brand new battery trays are less than 20 bucks if you ever want to switch back.

 

[TurboJuice]

Figured I would come in here an update.

It ended up being the alternator after all. The problem was, the volatge would read normal at idle, but as soon as i put it under load it would go to shit.

Just put in a start n charge 160 Amp and a motorcraft battery!