Sorry guys, something was wrong with the original upload. Hopefully this works better. I think it's also less confusing. These are the back probes and test light I like to use. Lisle flexible back probes - amzn.to/2TTRD9m OTC circuit test light - amzn.to/2WGm6sX
@@Chris-yy7qc going from the piece of paper to the actual vehicle is the same is going from night to day. The practical application of what's drawn on paper are 2 completely different worlds.
Thank so much you saved me time and money please remember theres alot of us guys out that need video's like this and just want to say from a guy that doesn't have very much money and need my truck to support my family that this video got me back on the road running without spending alot of money and now i can get back to providing for my family....thanks so much please keep making videos like this we need you...
I gotta say Wes the fact that you never edit out or just flat pretend you don’t make mistakes is such a rare quality on TH-cam. It’s one of the best parts about watching you work to be honest. As skilled as you clearly are you make the same dumb mistakes on rare occasion that I make constantly.
Read book called Sapiens and the biggest scientific discovery was ignorance meaning if you thought you were right and someone proved you wrong or you kept trying till you found out how to make it work .Kater in you talk to your buddy and he tells you some new thing you have to check .I just get sick of all the shit you have to take out get at problem
Dude we just did an engine swap from a dual alternator 6.0 to a single and couldn't figure out why the alternator wasn't charging, you're an absolute lifesaver. Thanks for saving me all the work of pouring over the wiring schematics, I legit owe you a beer. Cheers from NY!
Soooo I would love to delete my second alternator setup..... I read all kinds of crazy shit about messing with the wires at the pcm... This is sooo much easier if it works for me. Thank you
Wes-thanks for your diagnosis of this problem-I had the EXACT issue with my 2006 F250 last night, and the truck stranded me. I made the rookie error of simply replacing the alternator-but when the old unit bench tested “good”, I knew I had another issue with the charging circuit. I found your video, looked at that stupid harness on the passenger side fender, and the same light green wire with a red stripe (circuit 940) had been snacked on by a mouse, who left “evidence” of his presence. You saved me literally a dozen hours of troubleshooting. Thank You Wes!
You can give yourself a hard time about that, but i admire your analytical skills to follow the issue to its source. I can only imagine how much time you spent on it!
Dude you are the man!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My F250 died on the highway. Called AAA for a charge. We found no power from the alternator so we replace it and one of the batteries. Almost got home but it freaking died again. So I googled the problem and found your video. I sure enough the exact same problem. Some Rodent chewed mine too. Fixed it the same way as you. You saved me ass loads of time and money!!! Bravo!!
Wiring is really tricky work...your integrity, patience, and tenacity, led to a job very well done. Shoddy workmanship will earn you a stigma you'll never lose...
This same thing happened to my truck. Traced the wires from the dash, all the way to the end. Seen where there was a rodent but couldn't find any chewed wires. Gave up for a wk or so. Watched your video this morning, decided to go take another look and sure enough, the green wire at the end of the loop was chewed in half. Probably solved! Thank you!
Wes, thanks a ton. I was pulling my hair out until I saw your video. I had exactly the same problem. The rodent damage looked the identical. Once I saw your video it was an easy fix.
Thanks for the video my truck Broke down on a bridge because it wasn’t charging and after watching your video it turned out that it was the same problem a mouse chewed through the wires so I spliced them charged the batteries and now it’s back to working again. Thanks for taking the time to diagnose and make a video of it your a good man.
Absolute life saver. Spent two weeks losing my mind trying to figure out why my batteries kept dying while the batteries and alternator tested fine. My dual alternator connector is just fine, but at least I can use my truck using the test light trick until I zero in on the issue. Thanks Wes for answering a crazy person's email and providing advise... above and beyond!
Just want to say that this video made a headache for me into a quick fix. Appreciate the time you took to make this video. Had the exact same problem in the same place. Glad I found this before I tore it apart.
Your video was the exact same thing that was wrong with my truck. Literally looks like you were working on my truck where the mouse ate. Thanks for your video saved me a lot of time and money
Great video , I went tracing wires , into the dash and wowzas what a nightmare, turns out it was that little green and red jumper c1148 over on the passenger side was all chewed up. Alternater works now and the battery light now comes on when the key is turned off when the alternator kicks on. Perfect ! Thanks a bunch ! 2001 F550 7.3L
Dude… I’m absolutely totally freaking in love with your freaking electronic ability to chase that down! I’m just trying to learn how to do that stuff myself and I just love watching you dudes that are really pretty clear and I’m definitely going to need to get that wire diaphragm sheets so I can find my own issues… I’m fighting a no charge problem myself and I did just toss the $180 dollar alternator on it and that’s not the problem…. So I’m glad that I know what those two small wire’s run to now… thanks buddy!
Spot on Wes. The "I" circuit gets a lot of guys. Think of it as the "key on" signal to trigger the regulator to allow field current to energize the rotor field coil. Ford hasn't changed it much until they added smart PCM controlled charging in more recent years. Even the old external regulators used the same basic concept. Except they had an additional "S" (stator wire that they used to (sort of - LOL) warm up the early electric chokes). Good work on the diagnosis. Yeah we all miss the Fluke setup once in a while! LOL. _Dan_
Yeah I guess it was too simple. I think all Fords since 09 have had computer controlled alternators. Certainly complicates things. Not like the old days where you grounded the regulator with a screw driver and full fielded the alternator while watching the volt meter.
After watching this video I went outside and looked at the second alternator connector and what do you know, it had been chewed through. It was apparent that some critter liked the insulation that covers the fender liners and the wire was colleterial damage. This saved me tons of diagnosing. Thanks
I had the same issue and the mouse chewed the wires in the exact same spot. Tried every thing under the sun trying to figure it out! Thank you for sharing. It has helped me GREATLY!!
Wes, I have called that a 180 degree problem. It's those issues where I'm working on something and someone walks up and points to something completely out of focus to me and I realize I've been looking at the wrong thing. Of course, working alone you don't have anyone but the voices in your head to help and they are usually yelling about beer and youtube you could be watching. Cheers! thanks for sharing.
looking for answers to my charging issue and my plug on the inner fender looked exactly like yours. Like you used my truck for the video. Did the same repair and all is good again!
You are the man. I like the fact that you put in the video your mistake. All of us gearheads make more mistakes than we work miracles. Very good video. I have an 06 with 6.0 not charging, going to do this check now. Thanks
Wes, Like others before me you took me right to the issue. I had/have a squirrel getting up in the engine area at the same place. I saw what you found and looked and it was the same exact cap! wired in a jumper and was back to charging. Thank you for your post, it was very helpful. The next step would have been an unneeded alternator placement.
Great video. After quite a bit of time troubleshooting with no luck, I ran across this video. I had the exact same problem. I might still be troubleshooting if it weren't for this video. Thanks
you're not going to believe this. I had the exact same problem!!!!! rats nest on that fender, Pulled all the leaves and paper out and wires chewed just exactly the same!!!! thanks for the video!!!
Fantastic video! I had almost the exact same problem and while using the test light to excite the regulator a huge rat jumped out of the engine bay!!! Anyway, very clear and concise video or a common problem that can be very time consuming. Thanks
Heard about this wonderful connector from other forums. You're the only one thoughtful enough to show us what's going on. Great diagnostic work, wish I had the printed copy of the manual for my '03. The CD version I bought is cumbersome to use in the shop(don't like grease on my laptop!) and I think it was written by a third grader without an editing. I'd be embarrassed to put out a document with that many typos in it. Job well done.
As you've said in previous episodes, electronics repair is so much more complicated and less obvious. I build amplifiers and synth modules as well as repairing electronics because the things I build are specialized and there just isn't enough market to sustain me from that. The point being that we all have those days where it's the stupidest thing which causes us to stumble the most. In spite of all the BS you found the problem and fixed it in the end. I'd still call that a win.
After installing my new second alternator, assuming the voltage regulator was bad in the first new one, and the battery still wasn’t charging, your video saved me hours of troubleshooting! The mouse only chewed my green wire as well. Devious bastards! ;)
Man I appreciate this video, I have the exact same issue all the way down to the same freaking rodent problem. That same plug a squirrel chewed mine on my truck. Been having electrical issues, truck throwing low voltage codes and losing power. I'm about to fix it and let you guys know the out come in a few days
I messed with my charging system for a couple weeks. I was ready to part the POS out. I started watching your vid but it was going too slow so I stopped. I had some type of critter in my engine bay, mostly making nests from the hood insulation. I only saw one spot of wiring damage near the brake master on unused wires. In frustration I started watching again, mostly because of the rodent in the thumbnail. I made it through the whole thing and low and behold! Same exact problem on my 02. By the way, my parts store wanted 18 bucks for a Ford panel lamp. Thanks for making this vid. Did I say POS? 7.3 forever, best truck ever made. 😆
You weren’t slow, I was frustrated! You thoroughly went through the steps and I was was wanting to get to MY issue. My problem totally. Glad I went back and watched it ALL. The alternator overhaul company has a help line and the tech was pretty knowledgeable. He didn’t mention that circuit. Anyway, thanks again.
You are not alone, the rats love that connector for some reason. Keep in mind single or dual alt is a programmable option in the pcm, when dual alternator are used the pcm switches between Alternators, not both on at the same time.
Wes, you are the best pure mechanic on TH-cam. I gotta ask you, where do you get that detailed service information? The wiring diagrams, the connector pinouts? I’d kill for those when I’m chasing an elusive electrical issue.
That was the same thing that happened to my 2005 f250 6.0 After trouble shooting the electrical system I watch this short video then went to the same socket he showed and fix it hooray it was fix.
Oh we did not experience anything other then the correction, we love your efforts and knowledge it is helpful for us to learn new things from you. so we got it Lance & Patrick.
I had another power stroke Truck one time that had a slow drain on the battery after you drove it 5 hours or so later it wouldn’t start. It was really cold and really late when it pulled in and I had already put everything up to head home so I just left it outside because it was going to be like 15° that night and I put a six amp battery charger on it. my boss man asked me what I was doing why didn’t pull it in the shop so it would stay warm I told him I’ll check it at 8 o’clock in the morning if I pop the hood and the alternators warm it’s bad. I came in the next morning the alternator was nice warm like little heating element so I replaced it problem solved. Sometimes that helps finding power drains At least with alternators or relays because you can let the vehicle get cold and keep power to it and they will stay warm To the touch Most of the time They can help get you on the right circuit at least. Had a horn relay doing that one time on an old dump truck and the wire in the steering column and shorted out and they had just unplugged the horn. It was an old gas powered C 60 Chevrolet and after a week or so that little relay would eventually drain the single battery down to the point it wouldn’t start. It’s a wonder it didn’t burn to the ground that little relay was so hot you couldn’t touch it.
Thankyou fir your hard work and Perseverance it’s your fine attention to detail and your Diligence of performing you duties that you make you a real asset to us You-tubers .I bow to you get that pretty girl to take you out and buy you a beer
Many of the newer powerstrokes and ram/cummins trucks do not charge the batteries for the first two minutes once the truck is started, this is so the battery voltage can stabilize after all the juice that has been used by the starter and glow plug/ grid heater, start the truck 2 or 3 times for only a minute or two and you'll have dead batteries in no time
That's actually pretty normal for all alternators. Even my old 7.3 Powerstroke will not show anything on the volt meter for the first 30 seconds or so. Of course it's much more complex on newer trucks due to computer controlled regulators.
Rodents...yeah, I've got a 99 Dodge Ram Van V-6, and have had rats chew away all the fuel injector, MAP, TPS and Idle Air Valve wiring, several times...I know it was rats, they left their droppings...tough to fix, engine is 1/2 way in the van, halfway under the hood...couple years ago, I bought a $45 diagnostic reader and it's sweet, gives all the 'codes' for 'engine light' and you can reset them. It was 100% correct on this stuff.. Fluke test gear, I love that stuff....pricey but one of the best. Been using it since the early 1970's.
When I bought my Dodge Laramie Hemi I purchased the Mo-Par Max Care (1,000,000) mile warranty. It covers over 5,000 things, gives me a loaner vehicle, road side service, lodging and food re-bemusement from over 100 miles from home. I pay $ 100 and they fix it. These vehicles are nothing but computers on wheels.
Its also good to point out if the instrument cluster fails with the volt meter the alternator will not operate .. the volt meter controls the output I think .
Man I don’t miss working on those trucks lol. I had a similar problem that turned out to be really simple thing but it just confused the heck out of me. It was the same truck same engine the battery light came on one of the other guys put an alternator on it it was good to go for two days. I get in the truck to move it and fired it up And the Battery light was back on. It was blocking my garage door so I had to move it by the time I drove it around the shop the light went out and you could hear the alternator pulling on the engine so it started charging I pop the hood and check the wiring the alternator was getting warm so I left it alone. They drove it the rest of the day and it was fine. One of the guys brings it in the next day and says the alternator is out again. sure enough I get my voltmeter and check it and it’s not doing anything But there’s power on the field current wire so I know that it should be charging. I’ll take the alternator back and get another one for free put it on fire it up check it with my voltmeter it’s charging just fine. Boss man leaves in the truck an hour later he makes it about 10 miles and calls me and says the alternator lights on again. I drive my truck down to where they’re working get out my voltmeter again and fire it up sure enough it’s not charging and this time I pierced the wire With my test lot which I usually don’t do and it was still showing field current but the alternator wasn’t putting out but as I move the wires around I heard it start to whine and it started charging again but all the wires looked perfect. I’ll take the plug off and it looked like someone had shoved something down in it And I guess they had spread the terminals apart where it was making intermittent connection and had burnt it up. I couldn’t really see in the connector as it had a pretty small pin. Luckily one of our shop supply companies actually had one of those plugs and I had him send me one I replaced the plug problem solved. It was such a simple problem and I just overlooked it. All the wiring and connectors were so nice and clean on that truck I never thought they would be bad or that somebody would’ve been digging in them with something.
Jobs like this gets me thinking all sorts of stuff, "...packing groceries sounds like a pretty decent job, why couldn't I have done that instead" 🤣 In all honesty it's the analytical thinker in you that makes you such a great diagnostician. Most shops would throw parts at it first, then spend 30 mins thinking about it. Throw an ecu at it, tell the customer it's phucked because of a) rust (b) rats (c) some other random thing and send them on their way minus $1200.
Wes don't beat yourself up so bad. Electrical problems are a nightmare to trace on any vehicle and especially one you just disturbed every sidle plug under the hood during the motor swap. I'm a firm believer in owning complete factory wire diagrams for any truck I'm going to be keeping. I know that's impossible for a shop that works on so many different makes and models. Your spot on using the forums and google and internet resources but all of this eats up huge amounts of time. Sorry I'm rambling. Just want you to know I've worked days on retiring Ford Wire looms due to rodent damage in an RV V10'Triton powered rig among many others.
I really appreciate your video. I'm having an intermittent charging problem that's being elusive. Thanks to your video, I've managed to eliminate some areas. I'm wondering where you got your wiring diagrams. I'd like to have a full set for my 2006 F-250, 6.0 Turbo Diesel. Could you please point me toward them? Free would be great, but I'm happy to pay for them. Thanks.
meter set to amps in a/c....i have made that mistake more than once. i would agree, rodent damage. we always doubt ourselves when we do a job like that and have problems instead of sticking with our normal diagnosing procedures. nice find wes. i would expect a little extra labor on the bill for that.
Great video…I’m having the same problem with my truck, all wiring is ok tho. Batt light does not come on in the dash, can you tell me where the fuse is for the dash light?
Could you just loop the original alternator wires together. Then take new alternator wires with new plug and wire directly to the battery? I think my wires aren’t broke yet just on and off 100 times and eventually burns my alternator up. Going on 3rd one.
I have a 2001 7.3 and replaced batteries and starter etc and was doing good driving etc and then made a hour trip and then battery light came on figured alternator so changed it out still didn’t start etc so kept digging turned out IPR needed replaced the electrical part was broke got it going finally and took it for a cruise came back let it run to get it back to good and came out noticed the gauge was dropping and my monitor was dropping pass 10v turned things on and it went to 8v killed truck took the one off that was just replaced and they swapped it out and this one still does the same thing I checked continuity between batteries and they are good I checked volts to the signal wire that plugs in while key on and wasn’t 12 volts and then. I took leads and went from negative on battery to positive b+ and was 3volts I didn’t start it or check fuses just yet because it got dark out and I also have had mice issues in that same location on passenger side so I’m going to check that out to once it’s day
I have a problem with rats where I live. It's a clean area in s. Florida, but these are like palm rats or something. They haven't chewed wires yet, but they've made nests next to my battery and once a rat died in my ducts right behind the cabin air filter. I use peppermint oil to repel them. Works great, but you have to do it kind of often.
For those applications with dual alternators can the both piggyback off of that single lead or would there be a wire in the loom for an independent signal
i have been having an issue with my 23 F350 charging system fault, battery indicator reads 15 amps, the dealer had it a week then said it was a battery monitor sensor, they replaced it then on my way home from the dealer i got the same fault again, i only have 1500 miles also
Sorry guys, something was wrong with the original upload. Hopefully this works better. I think it's also less confusing.
These are the back probes and test light I like to use.
Lisle flexible back probes - amzn.to/2TTRD9m
OTC circuit test light - amzn.to/2WGm6sX
Instablaster.
Anyone who can solve electrics on cars from wiring diagrams has my respect
Yeah, theyre kind of handy. The problem with them is: Most of the time you dont know where the stuff is located...
@@Chris-yy7qc going from the piece of paper to the actual vehicle is the same is going from night to day. The practical application of what's drawn on paper are 2 completely different worlds.
Same, i can rebuild engines, diffs, hell pretty kuch anything, but wiring is my nemisis
Thank so much you saved me time and money please remember theres alot of us guys out that need video's like this and just want to say from a guy that doesn't have very much money and need my truck to support my family that this video got me back on the road running without spending alot of money and now i can get back to providing for my family....thanks so much please keep making videos like this we need you...
I gotta say Wes the fact that you never edit out or just flat pretend you don’t make mistakes is such a rare quality on TH-cam. It’s one of the best parts about watching you work to be honest. As skilled as you clearly are you make the same dumb mistakes on rare occasion that I make constantly.
Read book called Sapiens and the biggest scientific discovery was ignorance meaning if you thought you were right and someone proved you wrong or you kept trying till you found out how to make it work .Kater in you talk to your buddy and he tells you some new thing you have to check .I just get sick of all the shit you have to take out get at problem
Dude we just did an engine swap from a dual alternator 6.0 to a single and couldn't figure out why the alternator wasn't charging, you're an absolute lifesaver. Thanks for saving me all the work of pouring over the wiring schematics, I legit owe you a beer. Cheers from NY!
Great job it is very satisfying to find the problem
Soooo I would love to delete my second alternator setup..... I read all kinds of crazy shit about messing with the wires at the pcm... This is sooo much easier if it works for me. Thank you
Wes-thanks for your diagnosis of this problem-I had the EXACT issue with my 2006 F250 last night, and the truck stranded me. I made the rookie error of simply replacing the alternator-but when the old unit bench tested “good”, I knew I had another issue with the charging circuit. I found your video, looked at that stupid harness on the passenger side fender, and the same light green wire with a red stripe (circuit 940) had been snacked on by a mouse, who left “evidence” of his presence. You saved me literally a dozen hours of troubleshooting. Thank You Wes!
You can give yourself a hard time about that, but i admire your analytical skills to follow the issue to its source. I can only imagine how much time you spent on it!
It wasn't as bad as I made it seem.
I agree. You went the extra mile
Dude you are the man!!! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My F250 died on the highway. Called AAA for a charge. We found no power from the alternator so we replace it and one of the batteries. Almost got home but it freaking died again. So I googled the problem and found your video. I sure enough the exact same problem. Some Rodent chewed mine too. Fixed it the same way as you. You saved me ass loads of time and money!!! Bravo!!
Wow! You're actually the second, or maybe even the third person to tell me they had the same mouse damage to the same wire. What are the odds of that?
Wiring is really tricky work...your integrity, patience, and tenacity, led to a job very well done. Shoddy workmanship will earn you a stigma you'll never lose...
This same thing happened to my truck. Traced the wires from the dash, all the way to the end. Seen where there was a rodent but couldn't find any chewed wires. Gave up for a wk or so. Watched your video this morning, decided to go take another look and sure enough, the green wire at the end of the loop was chewed in half. Probably solved! Thank you!
This guy is fantastic! Humble and funny too!
Great video, saved me a huge amount of time searching. Turned out to be the exact same problem you isolated.
Wes, thanks a ton. I was pulling my hair out until I saw your video. I had exactly the same problem. The rodent damage looked the identical. Once I saw your video it was an easy fix.
Thanks for the video my truck Broke down on a bridge because it wasn’t charging and after watching your video it turned out that it was the same problem a mouse chewed through the wires so I spliced them charged the batteries and now it’s back to working again.
Thanks for taking the time to diagnose and make a video of it your a good man.
Absolute life saver. Spent two weeks losing my mind trying to figure out why my batteries kept dying while the batteries and alternator tested fine. My dual alternator connector is just fine, but at least I can use my truck using the test light trick until I zero in on the issue. Thanks Wes for answering a crazy person's email and providing advise... above and beyond!
Just want to say that this video made a headache for me into a quick fix. Appreciate the time you took to make this video. Had the exact same problem in the same place. Glad I found this before I tore it apart.
You did a great job thank you for your post you now have a vast amount of knowledge which you have distributed to the masses ,
Your video was the exact same thing that was wrong with my truck. Literally looks like you were working on my truck where the mouse ate. Thanks for your video saved me a lot of time and money
Great video , I went tracing wires , into the dash and wowzas what a nightmare, turns out it was that little green and red jumper c1148 over on the passenger side was all chewed up. Alternater works now and the battery light now comes on when the key is turned off when the alternator kicks on. Perfect ! Thanks a bunch ! 2001 F550 7.3L
Dude… I’m absolutely totally freaking in love with your freaking electronic ability to chase that down! I’m just trying to learn how to do that stuff myself and I just love watching you dudes that are really pretty clear and I’m definitely going to need to get that wire diaphragm sheets so I can find my own issues… I’m fighting a no charge problem myself and I did just toss the $180 dollar alternator on it and that’s not the problem…. So I’m glad that I know what those two small wire’s run to now… thanks buddy!
Spot on Wes. The "I" circuit gets a lot of guys. Think of it as the "key on" signal to trigger the regulator to allow field current to energize the rotor field coil.
Ford hasn't changed it much until they added smart PCM controlled charging in more recent years.
Even the old external regulators used the same basic concept. Except they had an additional "S" (stator wire that they used to (sort of - LOL) warm up the early electric chokes).
Good work on the diagnosis. Yeah we all miss the Fluke setup once in a while! LOL.
_Dan_
Yeah I guess it was too simple. I think all Fords since 09 have had computer controlled alternators. Certainly complicates things. Not like the old days where you grounded the regulator with a screw driver and full fielded the alternator while watching the volt meter.
Like others I had the same exact issue. Fixed the problem and now back to good. Thanks.
After watching this video I went outside and looked at the second alternator connector and what do you know, it had been chewed through. It was apparent that some critter liked the insulation that covers the fender liners and the wire was colleterial damage. This saved me tons of diagnosing. Thanks
Heard bc the wiring covering/insulation is soy based and that’s why they like to eat it
The best how to videos are the ones that show the 'school of hard knocks'. Great video, and thank you!!
I had the same issue and the mouse chewed the wires in the exact same spot. Tried every thing under the sun trying to figure it out! Thank you for sharing. It has helped me GREATLY!!
Wes, I have called that a 180 degree problem. It's those issues where I'm working on something and someone walks up and points to something completely out of focus to me and I realize I've been looking at the wrong thing. Of course, working alone you don't have anyone but the voices in your head to help and they are usually yelling about beer and youtube you could be watching. Cheers! thanks for sharing.
I find it is often best to walk away and come back the next day. It might irritate the impatient customer, but it prevents a lot of hair pulling.
Great video! This helped me out. I had this exact problem and would’ve never thought to look for this.
Just wanted you to know. I played with same problem. Watched your video. Damn if it wasn’t the same thing. Thank you
Same thing here.
My guy - you just saved me a ton of time and money! had the same exact issue... and fixed it the same exact way.
I give you a 10 star ⭐️ rating for your trouble shooting techniques!
👍It's a fix and u didn't throw parts at it. Better mechanic than most.
I can't believe it, this is I think the first video I've seen with Wes’s wife in it where she didn't have a phone in her hand. Kudos to Mrs.Wes.
looking for answers to my charging issue and my plug on the inner fender looked exactly like yours. Like you used my truck for the video. Did the same repair and all is good again!
You are the man. I like the fact that you put in the video your mistake. All of us gearheads make more mistakes than we work miracles. Very good video. I have an 06 with 6.0 not charging, going to do this check now. Thanks
I had this exact same problem. Same plug. My wire look like it might have been cut or somehow damaged. Thank you so much for this video.
Thank you, my wires were chewed on the loop side of the plug!
Wes, Like others before me you took me right to the issue. I had/have a squirrel getting up in the engine area at the same place. I saw what you found and looked and it was the same exact cap! wired in a jumper and was back to charging. Thank you for your post, it was very helpful. The next step would have been an unneeded alternator placement.
Took a while to figure out and the issue was right up top! Good job solving the problem! Damn rats chewing wires
Thank you for making this video, I had the same problem but on a 5.4L. had me stumped for a while, should have watched this sooner. Thank you
Great video. After quite a bit of time troubleshooting with no luck, I ran across this video. I had the exact same problem. I might still be troubleshooting if it weren't for this video. Thanks
you're not going to believe this. I had the exact same problem!!!!! rats nest on that fender, Pulled all the leaves and paper out and wires chewed just exactly the same!!!! thanks for the video!!!
Very competent Mechanic!!
Nice recovery!!!! Personally the wiring will make a man crazy real quick. I admire your honesty and great workmanship. Wrench on!!!!
Fantastic video! I had almost the exact same problem and while using the test light to excite the regulator a huge rat jumped out of the engine bay!!! Anyway, very clear and concise video or a common problem that can be very time consuming. Thanks
"cheese eating bastard who decided to have a snack" you described me perfectly
Amazing video. I have a similar problem with my 2003 E350 5.4.
Heard about this wonderful connector from other forums. You're the only one thoughtful enough to show us what's going on. Great diagnostic work, wish I had the printed copy of the manual for my '03. The CD version I bought is cumbersome to use in the shop(don't like grease on my laptop!) and I think it was written by a third grader without an editing. I'd be embarrassed to put out a document with that many typos in it. Job well done.
As you've said in previous episodes, electronics repair is so much more complicated and less obvious. I build amplifiers and synth modules as well as repairing electronics because the things I build are specialized and there just isn't enough market to sustain me from that. The point being that we all have those days where it's the stupidest thing which causes us to stumble the most. In spite of all the BS you found the problem and fixed it in the end. I'd still call that a win.
Love the humility and honesty.
After installing my new second alternator, assuming the voltage regulator was bad in the first new one, and the battery still wasn’t charging, your video saved me hours of troubleshooting! The mouse only chewed my green wire as well. Devious bastards! ;)
I counted nearly 20 comments with the same, exact problem. Very weird they only chew that wire.
Man I appreciate this video, I have the exact same issue all the way down to the same freaking rodent problem. That same plug a squirrel chewed mine on my truck. Been having electrical issues, truck throwing low voltage codes and losing power. I'm about to fix it and let you guys know the out come in a few days
Hey guys I'm back to say that this fix worked. No more codes and starts up alot easier, faster and more power. Thanks wes for the video.
I messed with my charging system for a couple weeks. I was ready to part the POS out. I started watching your vid but it was going too slow so I stopped. I had some type of critter in my engine bay, mostly making nests from the hood insulation. I only saw one spot of wiring damage near the brake master on unused wires. In frustration I started watching again, mostly because of the rodent in the thumbnail. I made it through the whole thing and low and behold! Same exact problem on my 02. By the way, my parts store wanted 18 bucks for a Ford panel lamp. Thanks for making this vid. Did I say POS? 7.3 forever, best truck ever made. 😆
I think I've had at least 4 people say they had the exact same issue. Glad it helped. Sorry if it was slow.
You weren’t slow, I was frustrated! You thoroughly went through the steps and I was was wanting to get to MY issue. My problem totally. Glad I went back and watched it ALL. The alternator overhaul company has a help line and the tech was pretty knowledgeable. He didn’t mention that circuit. Anyway, thanks again.
Last week, I just found a mouse nest in that exact same location.
You are not alone, the rats love that connector for some reason. Keep in mind single or dual alt is a programmable option in the pcm, when dual alternator are used the pcm switches between
Alternators, not both on at the same time.
Wes, you are the best pure mechanic on TH-cam. I gotta ask you, where do you get that detailed service information? The wiring diagrams, the connector pinouts? I’d kill for those when I’m chasing an elusive electrical issue.
This video helped me big time!!! A damn rodent ate my wires in the exact same spot as yours. Thank you for saving me tons of time and money.
That was the same thing that happened to my 2005 f250 6.0
After trouble shooting the electrical system I watch this short video then went to the same socket he showed and fix it hooray it was fix.
Oh we did not experience anything other then the correction, we love your efforts and knowledge it is helpful for us to learn new things from you. so we got it Lance & Patrick.
I had another power stroke Truck one time that had a slow drain on the battery after you drove it 5 hours or so later it wouldn’t start. It was really cold and really late when it pulled in and I had already put everything up to head home so I just left it outside because it was going to be like 15° that night and I put a six amp battery charger on it. my boss man asked me what I was doing why didn’t pull it in the shop so it would stay warm I told him I’ll check it at 8 o’clock in the morning if I pop the hood and the alternators warm it’s bad. I came in the next morning the alternator was nice warm like little heating element so I replaced it problem solved. Sometimes that helps finding power drains At least with alternators or relays because you can let the vehicle get cold and keep power to it and they will stay warm To the touch Most of the time They can help get you on the right circuit at least. Had a horn relay doing that one time on an old dump truck and the wire in the steering column and shorted out and they had just unplugged the horn. It was an old gas powered C 60 Chevrolet and after a week or so that little relay would eventually drain the single battery down to the point it wouldn’t start. It’s a wonder it didn’t burn to the ground that little relay was so hot you couldn’t touch it.
Thankyou fir your hard work and Perseverance it’s your fine attention to detail and your Diligence of performing you duties that you make you a real asset to us You-tubers .I bow to you get that pretty girl to take you out and buy you a beer
Thanks, my 06 550 with dual alternators stopped charging, I'll look at that connector first.
Many of the newer powerstrokes and ram/cummins trucks do not charge the batteries for the first two minutes once the truck is started, this is so the battery voltage can stabilize after all the juice that has been used by the starter and glow plug/ grid heater, start the truck 2 or 3 times for only a minute or two and you'll have dead batteries in no time
That's actually pretty normal for all alternators. Even my old 7.3 Powerstroke will not show anything on the volt meter for the first 30 seconds or so. Of course it's much more complex on newer trucks due to computer controlled regulators.
Thank for your helpful comment. Didn't know that.
Thanks for the video, I'm sure you just saved me hundreds of $$. Apparently Canadian mice like to eat that plug too.
My man you saved me alot of headache. Thank you so much i had the same cheese eating lil bastard in my truck lol
Very good! Excellent work, thank you.
Good catch and one I'm sure you'll never forget.
That mouse wasn't just doing business, that sh#t was PERSONAL!
Rodents...yeah, I've got a 99 Dodge Ram Van V-6, and have had rats chew away all the fuel injector, MAP, TPS and Idle Air Valve wiring, several times...I know it was rats, they left their droppings...tough to fix, engine is 1/2 way in the van, halfway under the hood...couple years ago, I bought a $45 diagnostic reader and it's sweet, gives all the 'codes' for 'engine light' and you can reset them. It was 100% correct on this stuff..
Fluke test gear, I love that stuff....pricey but one of the best. Been using it since the early 1970's.
Thank you I think you just solved my problem🎉
When I bought my Dodge Laramie Hemi I purchased the Mo-Par Max Care (1,000,000) mile warranty. It covers over 5,000 things, gives me a loaner vehicle, road side service, lodging and food re-bemusement from over 100 miles from home.
I pay $ 100 and they fix it. These vehicles are nothing but computers on wheels.
Its also good to point out if the instrument cluster fails with the volt meter the alternator will not operate .. the volt meter controls the output I think .
Great video, thanks.
I hate when that brain off in the wrong direction happens. Glad you got it sorted out in any case.
Helped a lot. I had same exact issue! Damn rats had dinner
Thanks helped me figured out my no charge mine was the wire at the plug under the abs module 🤷♂️ damn ford
Awesome 👏🏼 job . Mad respect to you
Man I don’t miss working on those trucks lol. I had a similar problem that turned out to be really simple thing but it just confused the heck out of me. It was the same truck same engine the battery light came on one of the other guys put an alternator on it it was good to go for two days. I get in the truck to move it and fired it up And the Battery light was back on. It was blocking my garage door so I had to move it by the time I drove it around the shop the light went out and you could hear the alternator pulling on the engine so it started charging I pop the hood and check the wiring the alternator was getting warm so I left it alone. They drove it the rest of the day and it was fine. One of the guys brings it in the next day and says the alternator is out again. sure enough I get my voltmeter and check it and it’s not doing anything But there’s power on the field current wire so I know that it should be charging. I’ll take the alternator back and get another one for free put it on fire it up check it with my voltmeter it’s charging just fine. Boss man leaves in the truck an hour later he makes it about 10 miles and calls me and says the alternator lights on again. I drive my truck down to where they’re working get out my voltmeter again and fire it up sure enough it’s not charging and this time I pierced the wire With my test lot which I usually don’t do and it was still showing field current but the alternator wasn’t putting out but as I move the wires around I heard it start to whine and it started charging again but all the wires looked perfect. I’ll take the plug off and it looked like someone had shoved something down in it And I guess they had spread the terminals apart where it was making intermittent connection and had burnt it up. I couldn’t really see in the connector as it had a pretty small pin. Luckily one of our shop supply companies actually had one of those plugs and I had him send me one I replaced the plug problem solved. It was such a simple problem and I just overlooked it. All the wiring and connectors were so nice and clean on that truck I never thought they would be bad or that somebody would’ve been digging in them with something.
Jobs like this gets me thinking all sorts of stuff, "...packing groceries sounds like a pretty decent job, why couldn't I have done that instead" 🤣
In all honesty it's the analytical thinker in you that makes you such a great diagnostician. Most shops would throw parts at it first, then spend 30 mins thinking about it. Throw an ecu at it, tell the customer it's phucked because of a) rust (b) rats (c) some other random thing and send them on their way minus $1200.
You need to punish Tom, since he didn't stop Jerry doing silly things. ;-)
Anyway good video, thank you.
Where can I get those schematics from ? Great video mate
The secret to success " graceful recovery "
Don't beat yourself up over that....you were smart enough to figure it out!
Yep, just took the long way around the barn.
Awesome video
Wes don't beat yourself up so bad. Electrical problems are a nightmare to trace on any vehicle and especially one you just disturbed every sidle plug under the hood during the motor swap. I'm a firm believer in owning complete factory wire diagrams for any truck I'm going to be keeping. I know that's impossible for a shop that works on so many different makes and models. Your spot on using the forums and google and internet resources but all of this eats up huge amounts of time. Sorry I'm rambling. Just want you to know I've worked days on retiring Ford Wire looms due to rodent damage in an RV V10'Triton powered rig among many others.
I can get most wiring diagrams from All Data, but it's kind of pricey. Where it gets tricky is the big trucks and odd equipment.
Tks.for you aport
I really appreciate your video. I'm having an intermittent charging problem that's being elusive. Thanks to your video, I've managed to eliminate some areas. I'm wondering where you got your wiring diagrams. I'd like to have a full set for my 2006 F-250, 6.0 Turbo Diesel. Could you please point me toward them? Free would be great, but I'm happy to pay for them. Thanks.
meter set to amps in a/c....i have made that mistake more than once. i would agree, rodent damage. we always doubt ourselves when we do a job like that and have problems instead of sticking with our normal diagnosing procedures. nice find wes. i would expect a little extra labor on the bill for that.
Yeah, there's no one easier to fool that yourself!
Great Video man !👍🏽
Great video…I’m having the same problem with my truck, all wiring is ok tho.
Batt light does not come on in the dash, can you tell me where the fuse is for the dash light?
Great Job Wes ! Digical's suck. Charge the owner, It was His mouse.
You are amazing. Thank you.
Great job tho Wes, dont be hard on yourself!!
Could you just loop the original alternator wires together. Then take new alternator wires with new plug and wire directly to the battery? I think my wires aren’t broke yet just on and off 100 times and eventually burns my alternator up. Going on 3rd one.
I have a 2001 7.3 and replaced batteries and starter etc and was doing good driving etc and then made a hour trip and then battery light came on figured alternator so changed it out still didn’t start etc so kept digging turned out IPR needed replaced the electrical part was broke got it going finally and took it for a cruise came back let it run to get it back to good and came out noticed the gauge was dropping and my monitor was dropping pass 10v turned things on and it went to 8v killed truck took the one off that was just replaced and they swapped it out and this one still does the same thing I checked continuity between batteries and they are good I checked volts to the signal wire that plugs in while key on and wasn’t 12 volts and then. I took leads and went from negative on battery to positive b+ and was 3volts I didn’t start it or check fuses just yet because it got dark out and I also have had mice issues in that same location on passenger side so I’m going to check that out to once it’s day
I have a problem with rats where I live. It's a clean area in s. Florida, but these are like palm rats or something. They haven't chewed wires yet, but they've made nests next to my battery and once a rat died in my ducts right behind the cabin air filter. I use peppermint oil to repel them. Works great, but you have to do it kind of often.
That Mouse smelled the flowing electrons ...
Apparently mice can sense current and they like it
For those applications with dual alternators can the both piggyback off of that single lead or would there be a wire in the loom for an independent signal
i have been having an issue with my 23 F350 charging system fault, battery indicator reads 15 amps, the dealer had it a week then said it was a battery monitor sensor, they replaced it then on my way home from the dealer i got the same fault again, i only have 1500 miles also
Thank you