Ford eats batteries like Charlie Sheen does coke.

[Ranger72]

I thought I had my charging issues with the truck figured out, but it turns out I was more wrong than T&A in a Disney movie. Here is the approximate timeline:

Truck has a dead-ish battery after being driven. I replace the alternator.

Truck still won't charge. I replace VR and solenoid.

Find out 2 year old battery is bad. Replace with a new one. Truck runs until battery is dead.

Replace starter but problems persist.

Take new battery back to store, it tests bad and they give me another one. I took the new alternator too, but their machine wasn't working so they just replaced it as well.

Truck runs like a champ, but there is no charge from the alternator.

After a couple days, my suspicions are confirmed and truck dies.

Have the store check the battery, and they say it is dead, and give me yet another one.

Here is my dilemma: either Super Start batteries have some astoundingly shoddy quality control, or something in my truck is offing them like prostitutes in Whitechapel. At this point I have wire-brushed the surface behind the VR and the solenoid, and triple checked my connections. I did discover, upon pulling the VR that when I jammed the connector on, the "A" pin was bent out of the way. That would definitely explain the lack of charging, but not so much the batterial destruction (batterycide?). I am reluctant to put the latest new battery in until I can figure out whats ruining the batteries!

[Ranger72]

I would also like to apologize.

I have undoubtedly raised the price of batteries at O'Reilly's for the rest of you.

[Ranger72]

Darn, I forgot to add that the battery is being drained only while running. There seems to be almost no drain when the truck is sitting, even for two weeks at a time.

[Whateverman]

i'd try the voltage reg again -99% of the time its the real culprit instead of either the alternator or the battery,i'd also check out the wiring out as well

[flyboy2610]

I don't know about Super Start batteries, but I have always had excellent results from Interstate batteries.

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

a cranking battery is not supposed to be run down dead and then recharged like that it causes sulfation. thats why they've been failing

[chad67]

I changed the gauge cluster in my T-bird and a week later my battery died on the interstate. Bought a new battery-went dead again. Paid a shop to rebuild my alternator-didn't help. Changed all my battery cables-no better. Only then did I backtrack my steps and remembered the cluster. Pulled it back out and found that when I put it in, one of the laminated circuits had folded back at the main connector when I plugged it in and wasn't making contact. Fixed that and no more problem. The signal to the voltage regulator runs through the gauges on my car-not sure if our trucks are the same. Just something else to research as a bad connection or wire can act like a dead alt. or vr.

[knightfire83]

Have you checked the fuseable link between the alt/regulator circuit and the starter solenoid battery side ?

Regulator "A" terminal disconnected = No charge.
There should be battery voltage at the regulator "A" terminal and the alt "batt" post on the back.

Diagram:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/wirin ... ing_01.jpg

I would install a voltage gauge on your truck so you can monitor what is going on with your charging situation.
12v or below no charging, 13-14v with engine at or above idle speed and your good to go.
Even a harbor freight gauge would be better than nothing.