Battery/Alternator

[snowman74]

About a year ago, I bought an Interstate battery...the biggest they had for my Bronco. In retrospect, I think I should have bought an Optima. Does anybody have any comments, good or bad, for either battery?

At any rate, I don't think my alternator is working properly. I get dimmer headlights when I roll the windows up...and with a pretty new battery, that shouldn't be happening. I think I'm going to replace my stock alternator with a higher amp...especially because I think I'm going to add a winch soon. Any suggestions to brand, amp output, etc would be appreciated.

Snowman74 >-

 

[BLADE262US]

I have never had any problems with the optima yellow top D34 I have been running them for years can get them off ebay for around $150 shipped . As for the alternator I have 5 150Watt KC on top of my bronco with the factory alternator it would **** the battery dry running down the road with them on . I went to the local yard and got an alternator out of a lincoln I think it was well it is a ford 3G factory 130 amp alternator It almost bolted right in and It plugged in very similar . Now the lights never dim with the KC, the headlights and the stereo . That is a mod that I would recomend everyone do . /emoticons/[email protected] 2x" width="20" height="20" />

 

[firelt90bronco]

I'm running a Diehard Truck and SUV, it'll power my plow, heater, stero and strobes and only dim when I pick up the blade. I also got a high out put alternator from Ford, the stock burnt up from the plow's draw. My battery gauge drops when I put up my windows a little too, I would upgrade your charging system to accomidate a winch.

 

[miesk5]

Check all heavy current carrying connections incl. batty + and ground to engine, engine Grnd to frame & starter conns. before trashing anythAng

btw, Johnson Controls http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

manufactures the big one for our Broncos (for Ford, Motorcraft

 

[snowman74]

Check all heavy current carrying connections incl. batty + and ground to engine, engine Grnd to frame & starter conns. before trashing anythAng

btw, Johnson Controls http://www.johnsoncontrols.com/

manufactures the big one for our Broncos (for Ford, Motorcraft

 

[miesk5]

yo buddy!

I go w the Motorcraft biggie; I am cheap, hate to spend $; don't like yellow colors, or red, I like black colors esp black dawggs

and batteries as well as Bronco;

I would use an Optima if I had to have it @ severe angles tho; but the specs speak for themselves...

 

[steechfinger]

dude run dual optimas there the best and there dry cells so u dont need to service them i had 2 red tops in a civic forthe system holy shit never a loss of power if i wasent going to vegas id be putting them in my bronco hopefully ill get them when im back

 

[Seabronc]

The dimming is probably due to either connections or the window motors are getting old and drawing extra current. It has an effect on the lights because they both get their source of power via the same feed from the battery.

You should consider doing the headlight wiring upgrade and the 3G alternator upgrade. The wiring upgrade for the lights removes the load off the old feed line and gets power direct from the battery. Since you are going to upgrade the alternator the 3G is the best move as they have the ability to supply higher current at idle speed than a 1G. If you want to stick with a 1G then I have a 140A one I took out to upgrade to the 3G, you can have it cheep.

Good luck,

>-

 

[snowman74]

The dimming is probably due to either connections or the window motors are getting old and drawing extra current. It has an effect on the lights because they both get their source of power via the same feed from the battery.

You should consider doing the headlight wiring upgrade and the 3G alternator upgrade. The wiring upgrade for the lights removes the load off the old feed line and gets power direct from the battery. Since you are going to upgrade the alternator the 3G is the best move as they have the ability to supply higher current at idle speed than a 1G. If you want to stick with a 1G then I have a 140A one I took out to upgrade to the 3G, you can have it cheep.

Good luck,

>-

I appreciate it, but I think I will upgrade to the 3G. Where can I buy a 3G alternator; also, what wiring upgrade do you mean? Where can I find that?

To run two red-tops, since I'm not an electrical genius, how would I wire it up? Would the 3G alternator support that?

Snowman74 >-

 

[Seabronc]

You can get all of it new from Fireguy at FSB. You will love the 3G and the headlight wiring upgrade will change your lights from two yellow holes in the snow to super novas. this is tha link to the stuff he sells http://fordfuelinjection.com/?p=21.

You could find some of this stuff in a junkyard but you never know what you are getting.

Good luck,

>-

 

[Seabronc]

Another possible cause of the dimming is the wires that go between the door and the A-post. They could be partially broken from flexing.

>-

 

[wtfdissux]

there are only a handfull of companys that make batterys in the first place they just change labeling for the different companys

second if you add accesorys with a high draw ( lights winch etc.) should't you also upgrade the wires that feed them and run relays to take a load off the alt and the battery

but that said i run a 1000 cca interstate battery with 4 150 watt lights stereo and amps and the lights never dim out with a stock alt. but given the choice i might do the 3g upgrade but my alt is a 120 amp now from autozone for about 95 bucks if i remember right

 

[snowman74]

Another possible cause of the dimming is the wires that go between the door and the A-post. They could be partially broken from flexing.

>-

You know what, they're dimming just as they hit the top when I roll them up. I don't just hold the button for a long time, It's just that split second when they stop at the top that the lights dim. The motors are new (remanufactured). I've check all the wiring and switches...seems to be okay. Now, I know that this sounds stupid...I'm not in the habit of rolling up a window to see if it will break...I just don't understand why the lights dim.

Any word on how to hook up two optima batteries? I'm looking at adding a winch before winter, and know I'll need the power. Actually, it will be a Ramsey Patriot winch in a Ramsey winch mount bumper. It will look something like this: http://www.ramsey.com/winches/patriot9500.html

And the bumper will look similar to this:

http://www.ramsey.com/automotive/mounting_systems.html

Snowman74 >-

 

[firelt90bronco]

I believe they make a dual battery kit for the Bronco (it should have had one anyway). You'll need a place to mount the second battery, I'd recommend in the drivers side corner behind the air box.

 

[miesk5]

they're dimming just as they hit the top when I roll them up

clean the tracks and spray silicone in there; if you have time remove door panel and clean reg, tracks, etc.

 

[miesk5]

a sad Optima problem for Eby

http://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2/showth...age=1&pp=25

 

[snowman74]

a sad Optima problem for Eby

http://www.ranger-forums.com/forum2/showth...age=1&pp=25

Damn! This poor guy had a bad day. I think I'll stick with Interstate right now. I haven't heard of any of them blowing up.

BTW, yesterday I was working on my Grandma's Chevy (please resist the temptations...I already know) and I accidently touched the positive end of the battery terminal with a wrench while tightening a fitting on the high pressure side of the AC line. It sparked and the engine died. I immediately turned off ignition, checked the battery for leaks/cracks etc. Then tried starting it. It took three tries, but it finally started again. It runs fine now...but I am worried I might have F'd something up. What do you all think? Are there any things I should check just to be safe? Everything seems to be working fine...checked fuses, all good. Checked fusable link on battery cable, it's good. Stereo, AC, all gauges, everything seems fine. What should I do?

Snowman74 >-

 

[Seabronc]

Damn! This poor guy had a bad day. I think I'll stick with Interstate right now. I haven't heard of any of them blowing up.

BTW, yesterday I was working on my Grandma's Chevy (please resist the temptations...I already know) and I accidently touched the positive end of the battery terminal with a wrench while tightening a fitting on the high pressure side of the AC line. It sparked and the engine died. I immediately turned off ignition, checked the battery for leaks/cracks etc. Then tried starting it. It took three tries, but it finally started again. It runs fine now...but I am worried I might have F'd something up. What do you all think? Are there any things I should check just to be safe? Everything seems to be working fine...checked fuses, all good. Checked fusable link on battery cable, it's good. Stereo, AC, all gauges, everything seems fine. What should I do?

Snowman74 >-

I'd check the output of the alternator to make sure it is still maintaining the battery at 13+ volts.

>-

 

[snowman74]

I'd check the output of the alternator to make sure it is still maintaining the battery at 13+ volts.

>-

According to the gauge, the output is just touching 14. Think I might have damaged the alternator?

Snowman74 >-