- First Name
- Jeff
- Joined
- Jul 24, 2022
- Threads
- 5
- Messages
- 65
- Reaction score
- 144
- Location
- Melbourne Florida
- Vehicle(s)
- 4D Bronco First Edition
- Your Bronco Model
- First Edition
- Thread starter
- #1
I know there’s a million threads about alternators. Have read a bunch of them, probably not all, but still haven’t seen my exact situation.
This is a 2.7 First Edition approx 7,500 miles.
Only items hard connected to battery aftermarket are a winch and 4 pole trailer light harness. All other accessories/lights are through aux switches.
Yes I’ve been through water/mud but not close to the depth the Bronco should be capable off (video below).
Current status: Bronco dropped off to Ford dealer to diagnose battery drain issues.
I noticed on the way home a few days ago that auto stop/start didn’t work (not complaining about that!) and parking sensor sounds were a different tone. That self corrected the next day and all was well driving to work. Later that day trying to leave work the entire vehicle was dead (no response from vehicle whatsoever). Got it jumped and drove to auto parts store to have battery checked. Agent could not confirm battery was bad but recommended new battery. I declined. Drive home fine from there. While at home I checked Voltage with a power meter and battery was at 12.3V. I disconnected the negative on the battery. The next morning I checked voltage and still at 12.3V. Started fine and drove to work no issues. By end of day, battery completely dead again. I tried my portable battery charger but just got error alert. Had to jump from another vehicle to get going. On the few stops I made, I would disconnect negative on battery, and when I reconnected, it would start just fine. Last stop of the night (last night) was the dealer. This morning got the call it was dead and blocking their entrance. They replaced the battery to move it and keeping over weekend to run tests. Initial report is alternator is fine and something I added must be draining the battery.
In my mind, if the winch or trailer harness were killing the battery, the battery would have drained even with the negative disconnected. It didn’t. Am I wrong?
All other aftermarket electrical devices are wired through the aux switches, which shouldn’t be hot with the engine off. Am I wrong?
I’ve heard that a bad alternator may charge fine while the vehicle is on and continue to try to charge while the vehicle is off if it’s bad. Is that true? Dealer said alternator was fine.
Dealer is keeping over the weekend as they diagnose the issue.
What do ya’ll think?
This is a 2.7 First Edition approx 7,500 miles.
Only items hard connected to battery aftermarket are a winch and 4 pole trailer light harness. All other accessories/lights are through aux switches.
Yes I’ve been through water/mud but not close to the depth the Bronco should be capable off (video below).
Current status: Bronco dropped off to Ford dealer to diagnose battery drain issues.
I noticed on the way home a few days ago that auto stop/start didn’t work (not complaining about that!) and parking sensor sounds were a different tone. That self corrected the next day and all was well driving to work. Later that day trying to leave work the entire vehicle was dead (no response from vehicle whatsoever). Got it jumped and drove to auto parts store to have battery checked. Agent could not confirm battery was bad but recommended new battery. I declined. Drive home fine from there. While at home I checked Voltage with a power meter and battery was at 12.3V. I disconnected the negative on the battery. The next morning I checked voltage and still at 12.3V. Started fine and drove to work no issues. By end of day, battery completely dead again. I tried my portable battery charger but just got error alert. Had to jump from another vehicle to get going. On the few stops I made, I would disconnect negative on battery, and when I reconnected, it would start just fine. Last stop of the night (last night) was the dealer. This morning got the call it was dead and blocking their entrance. They replaced the battery to move it and keeping over weekend to run tests. Initial report is alternator is fine and something I added must be draining the battery.
In my mind, if the winch or trailer harness were killing the battery, the battery would have drained even with the negative disconnected. It didn’t. Am I wrong?
All other aftermarket electrical devices are wired through the aux switches, which shouldn’t be hot with the engine off. Am I wrong?
I’ve heard that a bad alternator may charge fine while the vehicle is on and continue to try to charge while the vehicle is off if it’s bad. Is that true? Dealer said alternator was fine.
Dealer is keeping over the weekend as they diagnose the issue.
What do ya’ll think?
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