Battery/electrical problem on my Escort

**asshanson** · 01-06-2012

This is on my 2001 Escort ZX2, it was working fine the other week, and it sat for 8 days in the 30-50 degree weather we've been having, not nearly long enough to kill the battery. Anyway, the car was completely dead when I tried to start it a few days ago, no power locks, no trunk release, etc. I figured it was just an old battery, but jumping it didn't help anything.

Even with the other car jumping it, there is still no power locks, interior lights, etc. I checked the Escort's battery and it still has 12v according to my voltmeter, definitely enough to run a power lock. It seems like the battery has a cutoff switch and the power isn't making it to the car. I even took out the battery and hooked the Escort up to the other car's battery, still nothing.

I checked the main fuse box under the hood and everything looks ok there, I'm really at a loss here, any help is appreciated.

1QUICK4 · 01-07-2012

Check the 3 wire connecter on the alternator. They are notorious for comming loose and/or corroding badly. It can cause all the issues you are having and more.

Give it the old wiggle test

**asshanson** · 01-08-2012

Well I couldn't find anything wrong with the alternator wires, and wiggling them didn't help. I tested voltage and there was 0v at the alternator, so I decided to fully take out the main fuse, and even though it didn't look broken there wasn't continuity between the two ends. So I got a new one, and jumped it, and the car started. No interior lights worked and the radio didn't turn on, and about 10 seconds after I took off the jumper cables the car died.

So, at least I figured out the no power issue, now I have to figure out if there is a wiring issue or if the alternator is really dead. Given the amount of times the battery has died in this car, and being 10 years old, I'm guessing it just needs replaced.

**scheides** · 01-08-2012

Make sure you replace the ground strap, I put a few batteries and alternators into my old GTI before I figured out that the main ground wire was rusted all the way through!

A//// Guy · 01-09-2012

Did you replace the battery end terminals at all or clean them? Ive had problems on my 1G with just corroded terminals that didnt even look too bad.

Im guessing its the alternator, bad ones usually drain the battery and cause all sorts of funky problems with the electrical system (lights, radio, etc).

**asshanson** · 01-09-2012

Scheides, I had problems with the ground strap last year and added another one.
Peter, the terminals were super clean, no corrosion at all on them.

I wonder if the alternator going out could cause a power surge and blow the main fuse?

1QUICK4 · 01-09-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by asshanson

I wonder if the alternator going out could cause a power surge and blow the main fuse?

It's common on F150's, Exploders, and a few other Furds.

**asshanson** · 01-10-2012

Well the alternator did turn out to be bad, at least Autozone's tester said so. Got a new one tonight and will be installing tomorrow, I'm really lucky it's been so nice out, didn't even have to push the car into the garage to work on it.

**asshanson** · 01-10-2012

New alternator in, what a PITA to install compared to a DSM. Tensioner pulley was impossible to get to, and trying to get the belt back on while holding a wrench tight on the tensioner took at least a half hour by myself. Oh well, jumped the car and everything seems to be working fine, except the radio and dome lights don't work, another fuse to replace.

Thanks for all the help.