Anyone had issues with the check charging light?

[jdmans101]

Okay, so my car has been doing this for about a month now and im not sure what to do. My check charging light keeps poping up when I first start driving the car, maybe less than a mile of driving. It sometimes turns right off but them keeps coming up for about the first 10 mins of the car being on and then its gone and never comes back on. Its just very intermittent. Im not really sure whats going on here. I checked my battery connections and I have a red top battery so I can rule that out right now. I took the car up to auto zone and they volt tested my alternator and its doing just fine.. And my radar detector has a volt reader built into it and its always at 14 when driving. My only other thought is that the belt is slipping or the charging sensor is just going nuts on me. And even if it was the alternator it wouldn't be doing this on and off crap would it? It would just die right away if it were going bad? Anyone had any issues with this light?

 

[SlickLS]

Mine use to do that and I didnt do anything about it until it left me stranded. Go ahead and replace/rebuild the alternator.

 

[1LoudLS]

did you happen to have any of those test done while the light was on?

could also be one of the many many connections in the car could be loose.

and yes, alternator issues can start as intermittent.

 

[jdmans101]

Mine use to do that and I didnt do anything about it until it left me stranded. Go ahead and replace/rebuild the alternator.

Yours did it when the car would first turn on? because after about 10-15 mins it never comes back on again, and just curious. What alternator did you replace it with? I know the best one would be from ford but its a lot more money than one from auto zone or something...

did you happen to have any of those test done while the light was on?

could also be one of the many many connections in the car could be loose.

and yes, alternator issues can start as intermittent.

Yeah I tried my best to find all the connections and they all seem to be fine. The light comes on and off when it wants as it wants. So when the thing does pop up its only on for a few sec to min. I would never have time to take it up there before it would shut off.

 

[02LincLS]

I made a post about 6 months back with similar issues... battery and alternator are both less than a year old. Still did it after alternator replacement (motorcraft reman. part) but revving it a little made it go out. Did it a few times right after replacement, and now only once in the past 4 months. Confidence inspiring huh! And its not a false reading because voltage was dropping at the battery when the light was on.

Keep us posted if you find anything. I took it back to the dealer that put in the alternator and they didn't see anything wrong (and the stupid light would not come on).

dug up my thread: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=73905&highlight=check+charging+system

 

[LDM]

I had the same problems as you a couple of months ago. I replaced the alternator with a Ford/Lincoln part. No problems since.

There have been many problems with non-Ford/Lincoln alternators on LS's mentioned on LVC... so go with a Ford/Lincoln alternator.

 

[tireman]

mine did the same thing

yep, the alternator is funky, I bought a reman and it lasted 6 months. It could be the electronics in the alt are not the greatest. Get a new one next time, not a reman.

 

[jdmans101]

I made a post about 6 months back with similar issues... battery and alternator are both less than a year old. Still did it after alternator replacement (motorcraft reman. part) but revving it a little made it go out. Did it a few times right after replacement, and now only once in the past 4 months. Confidence inspiring huh! And its not a false reading because voltage was dropping at the battery when the light was on.

Keep us posted if you find anything. I took it back to the dealer that put in the alternator and they didn't see anything wrong (and the stupid light would not come on).

dug up my thread: http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showthread.php?t=73905&highlight=check+charging+system

Hmm now you make it hard to tell lol... My voltage on my battery is always the same when the light is on or off. Like I said its intermittent and happens about 5/10 times I drive the car now, but it is getting worse I think.

 

[jdmans101]

yep, the alternator is funky, I bought a reman and it lasted 6 months. It could be the electronics in the alt are not the greatest. Get a new one next time, not a reman.

I had the same problems as you a couple of months ago. I replaced the alternator with a Ford/Lincoln part. No problems since.

There have been many problems with non-Ford/Lincoln alternators on LS's mentioned on LVC... so go with a Ford/Lincoln alternator.

That's all I needed to hear. I will be doing to the dealer tomorrow and spend the extra cash on the better part. I know the motorcraft ones have some mixed reviews here.

 

[LDM]

Mine kept getting worse too, more frequent. I had already replaced the battery.

I had no voltage drop at the battery. The problem went away after getting an alternator.

I went to a Lincoln Dealership and they gave me a reman... I said no I want a new one... they said they don't make new ones anymore. (Whether or not that is true, that's what I was told).

Many people have had problems with other brands of alternators... (you can get a bad Ford/Lincoln alternator too, but people have had better results with them).

 

[LDM]

There will be a core charge. Return your original one to get your money back later...

 

[jdmans101]

Mine kept getting worse too, more frequent. I had already replaced the battery.

I had no voltage drop at the battery. The problem went away after getting an alternator.

I went to a Lincoln Dealership and they gave me a reman... I said no I want a new one... they said they don't make new ones anymore. (Whether or not that is true, that's what I was told).

Many people have had problems with other brands of alternators... (you can get a bad Ford/Lincoln alternator too, but people have had better results with them).

alright, thanks!

 

[LDM]

Now is the time to replace the DCCV if you need to... as they are back to back in the same spot. It's easier to replace the DCCV if you pull the alternator.

(I replaced both at the same time).

 

[SlickLS]

JD- yea the LS acts weird when there is a power problem. I first bought an autozone alternator and it lasted all of 2 weeks so I got a refund and bought a motorcraft alternator. All has been well for years now. Just replace it before you are left stranded.

 

[G-RELL]

+1

please keep us updated, mines been doing it for a while now (6 months or so)- i know, i know. I'll do the alt. when i do my sway bar bushings towards the end of july.

 

[joegr]

Hmm now you make it hard to tell lol... My voltage on my battery is always the same when the light is on or off. Like I said its intermittent and happens about 5/10 times I drive the car now, but it is getting worse I think.

It appears that the check charging system message can be triggered if the alternator is working too hard to maintain voltage. For example, if the alternator is working at 80% capacity for only a 20% load, the message could be triggered. This could happen if one of the windings failed, one of the diodes failed, or if the brushes are badly worn.

 

[jdmans101]

Well I called ford and they only sell reman motorcraft ones now ( as someone stated above so yes you were right), no more new ones for the ls I will change it hopefully within the nest few days and let you guys know if it fixes my issue.

 

[jdmans101]

alright you guys. So I can get a reman from ford for $275.00 pretty high for a reman I think, buts its still a Motorcraft so idk. But I called advance auto and they have a Worldwide brand alternator for 160 with a lifetime warranty, that kinda changes my mind..
which one you guys think I should go for? There was also a brand new Bosh one for $204.00.

 

[LS4me]

alright you guys. So I can get a reman from ford for $275.00 pretty high for a reman I think, buts its still a Motorcraft so idk. But I called advance auto and they have a Worldwide brand alternator for 160 with a lifetime warranty, that kinda changes my mind..
which one you guys think I should go for? There was also a brand new Bosh one for $204.00.

Were money no object..... Bosch for sure. I would never get a no-name brand (Worldwide) no matter how inexpensive. The chain store brands are also sub-standard, IMHO. They usually last a few months to a year. The Bosch or Motorcraft will give you years of service.

 

[jdmans101]

Were money no object..... Bosch for sure. I would never get a no-name brand (Worldwide) no matter how inexpensive. The chain store brands are also sub-standard, IMHO. They usually last a few months to a year. The Bosch or Motorcraft will give you years of service.

Yeah I would prefer a new Motorcraft one but they dont make them anymore. Its just the lifetime warranty with the other one that surprised me.. I just think 275 for a reman from ford is a little over lol.

 

[joegr]

I vote remanufactured Ford. Others are hit and miss.

 

[2002_lincolnLS]

Yeah I would prefer a new Motorcraft one but they dont make them anymore. Its just the lifetime warranty with the other one that surprised me.. I just think 275 for a reman from ford is a little over lol.

Even with the lifetime waranty you still won't want to pull it out every 6 months, its kind of a pain in the ass, make sure when you do change it to check out the tech article about it. It is very helpful info.


Actually I don't see a tech article, I'll try to find the thread with th info in it.

 

[jdmans101]

I vote remanufactured Ford. Others are hit and miss.

Even with the lifetime waranty you still won't want to pull it out every 6 months, its kind of a pain in the ass, make sure when you do change it to check out the tech article about it. It is very helpful info.

Yeah I'm just going to go with the ford now that you say that. Still comes with a 1 year warranty. As for the tech article I looked for one but didn't see one, did I miss something? where is it? This will be my first time changing it in the ls so lets hope I figure it out lol.
now I read you didn't find it. Guess that's why I couldn't.

 

[jdmans101]

I found it

http://www.lincolnvscadillac.com/showpost.php?p=414151&postcount=2

 

[2002_lincolnLS]

good stuff, ill have to put that in my quick search guide