NoLimit95
Dedicated LVC Member
Here is the deal. When I start my 94 (cold start), the dash lights or whatever lights I have on will flicker enough to notice. It's not an off and on flicker but enough to see. The idle will be around 1100 or so when first started and then it goes to around 750 like it should and the flicker continues but the idle is perfect and smooth.
I let the car idle until the temp gauge starts to move a little and then drive. After it gets up to temp or even a 1/4 of the way, the idle flicker isn't there anymore. It's almost like the alternator is going bad again. I have an Ultima 130 amp 4G lifetime warranty alternator. Yes, I know, MOTORCRAFT is supposed to fix all and last a lifetime.
Another thing it's doing after getting up to temp while at idle is acting like it's about to run out of gas. It stalls like it is about to run out of gas but this is with 3/4 of a tank of gas. It has a new fuel filter on it, I know it's not the pump because I changed it out from a working OEM to an almost new OEM fuel pump. It has a fairly new IAC or I can safely say, less than 500 miles is on it and the TPS is about a year old.
Question is, could the stall and flicker all be from the alternator going bad? I have a brand new Motorcraft alternator on the way. Not rebuilt, not used but brand new. The battery I have in is also a couple of months old. The alternator I have in there now is my 3rd one since 2005 so it's known to me that this particular alternator is prone to go bad.
The stalling issue never happens while driving and only at the 750 idle. It doesn't always stall, just this past week or two, it's started it. If it does stall, I can tap the gas and bring it straight out of the stall and it idles fine again. My dad being 61 seems to think it's all because of the stereo stuff I have in the trunk but it's not. First off, what I have as a system isn't big enough to cause all of this and I rarely ever turn it on. Air ride is all good and airs up like it should. It starts fine without any hesitation or misfires. I just think that the cold start flicker and after getting warm idle stall is alternator related.
Luckily, the parts store is going to let me bring my alternator in and take the $160 I have invested into that one and add enough to make the difference up for the new Motorcraft for $234 so I'll be paying about $80 for the real deal but at the same time, I'm going from lifetime to a 1 year warranty.
I let the car idle until the temp gauge starts to move a little and then drive. After it gets up to temp or even a 1/4 of the way, the idle flicker isn't there anymore. It's almost like the alternator is going bad again. I have an Ultima 130 amp 4G lifetime warranty alternator. Yes, I know, MOTORCRAFT is supposed to fix all and last a lifetime.
Another thing it's doing after getting up to temp while at idle is acting like it's about to run out of gas. It stalls like it is about to run out of gas but this is with 3/4 of a tank of gas. It has a new fuel filter on it, I know it's not the pump because I changed it out from a working OEM to an almost new OEM fuel pump. It has a fairly new IAC or I can safely say, less than 500 miles is on it and the TPS is about a year old.
Question is, could the stall and flicker all be from the alternator going bad? I have a brand new Motorcraft alternator on the way. Not rebuilt, not used but brand new. The battery I have in is also a couple of months old. The alternator I have in there now is my 3rd one since 2005 so it's known to me that this particular alternator is prone to go bad.
The stalling issue never happens while driving and only at the 750 idle. It doesn't always stall, just this past week or two, it's started it. If it does stall, I can tap the gas and bring it straight out of the stall and it idles fine again. My dad being 61 seems to think it's all because of the stereo stuff I have in the trunk but it's not. First off, what I have as a system isn't big enough to cause all of this and I rarely ever turn it on. Air ride is all good and airs up like it should. It starts fine without any hesitation or misfires. I just think that the cold start flicker and after getting warm idle stall is alternator related.
Luckily, the parts store is going to let me bring my alternator in and take the $160 I have invested into that one and add enough to make the difference up for the new Motorcraft for $234 so I'll be paying about $80 for the real deal but at the same time, I'm going from lifetime to a 1 year warranty.
