Hi all.. Just picked up this 2002 crown vic the other night..

Car runs great.. But..

Went to start the car last night and the cars battery is dead dead.. like 5 volts..

now.. Charged it back up and removed the battery charger and the Battery light is on..

The car is not running and the keys are not in the ignition.

why would the battery light be on when the car is not????

anyone know.. Battery is about a 1yr old by reading the date on it..

and yes its a P71..

Need some help ford guys!!!

thanks in advance..

 

sounds like a short

 

diode in the alternator possibly. Just unhook the connector on the alt and see if the light goes out, could be a "short" in it.

 

^ thats what ive heard from a few Ford techs by me.. Will try it tonight when I get home.

 

Well got the battery checked and its good.

Got home and installed the Battery and checked the voltage and it was 12.5 when i put it in.. then a few seconds later I checked the volts again and it was at around 11.8..

pulled the plug off the alternator like stated above and then checked the volts and it shot back up to 12.5 volts..

also checked it 3 hrs later with the plug off the alternator and its still at 12.5..

so off to find a alternator tomorrow... Anyone know where to find one for a decent price???

cause autozone and discount are saying 250 + for a new or reman one...

 

that's because it's a 130amp alt

 

can get new one online for 100 bucks let me know if you want the info its where i get all mine you will have in a week

 

Barely used auto parts!!!

 

^ was thinking the same..

 

Well picked up another alternator today from my local yard..

And well I had it tested and it worked at discount.. installed it and the battery light is on now when the car is running.. also tested it with my battery charger that has a alternator test function.. came back bad..

but this one does the same thing as the other.. the battery light is on when the car is off.. but its strange...

if you shake the car a bit. the light flickers or gos off...

must be something in the car... like some loose wiring??? from something??