i think its a generator issue

mitchbar · 11-17-2004, 01:28 AM

lately my 64 mustang has been acting up. when i go to start it, it will just click once and the engine will not crank or anything. then i jump it and it starts then runs for a few days and then it does it again. i know it is not a battery problem since i just bought a new battery last week. what does anybody think it is. is it the generator and if so how do i get it checked out to be sure or are there any tests to see what the problem could be?

bmxmon · 11-17-2004, 04:46 PM

Mine is doing this exact same thing. Mine is to the point where when i shut it off, it makes ticking noises inside it and if you feel it, you can feel it vibrating. One way i would think that you could tell is when you turn your car off, if the GEN light comes and stays on for awhile. This is what mine does. Probably time to buy a new one.

Ron1 · 11-17-2004, 10:59 PM

I had a similar problem with both my 65's. It turned out to be the battery cables. They were worn out. I replaced them with a larger gauge cable and the problems went away.

Ron

KiltedBanshees93GT · 11-18-2004, 10:05 AM

The gen is probibly part of the prob, but I would also recommend going with a heavier gauge cable. My 66 was getting bad heat fade, and the cables did a world of difference. (thanks to the long tubes,she was still eating a starter every 6 months, but thats another story).
For the money its definalty worth upgrading from the stockers.

J

mitchbar · 11-18-2004, 11:22 AM

i know that it isnt my cables because last month i had to replace them with heavier cables and i also got a new battery. so the only thing i can think of is that it is my generator .

mustangII460 · 11-18-2004, 08:43 PM

Go to auto zone and have them check your alternator, its free.

If its good then id say your starter is gone.

Rev · 11-22-2004, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustangII460

Go to auto zone and have them check your alternator, its free.

If its good then id say your starter is gone.

Or could be the starter relay.

Rev

PKRWUD · 11-29-2004, 09:40 AM

Odds are it's one of three things:

1) One or both battery cables aren't tight enough.

2) A failing generator.

3) A small drain on the system.

I suspect it's number 3. If it was the generator, a jump start wouldn't sufficiently charge the battery enough to last for a few days. The car would have trouble starting the next time you tried.

What I would do if I were you is to get a simple test light, disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, attach the alligator clip from the test light to the negative cable terminal, and touch the tip of the test probe to the negative post on the battery. Make sure everything in the car is turned off, and that the doors are closed. If the test light lights up at all, you have a drain on the battery somewhere. The next step is to have a friend hold the test light to the battery post, watching the light, while you remove the fuses one by one until the test light goes out. When that happens, you will know which circuit the short is in, and you can start looking for it. Make sure that the doors are closed when ever you do this, including when you pull the fuses. If a door is open, the dome light will create a drain, and light up the test light, giving you false results.

Take care,
~Chris

z3beemer · 12-01-2004, 09:21 PM

Check to make sure your engine and chassis are grounded. Don't take it for granted that with all that metal bolted together it has to be grounded, it may not be. One way to check is take the negative jumper cable, attach one end to the negative post of the battery and the other end to a good ground on the engine, then try to start the car. If it starts, it's a ground problem. It tha'st the problem you can fix it by running a second ground cable directly from the battery to somewhere on the engine (like a intake manifold bolt. Be sure it's not a painted area or aluminum.

11-17-2004, 01:28 AM	#1
mitchbar Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2	i think its a generator issue lately my 64 mustang has been acting up. when i go to start it, it will just click once and the engine will not crank or anything. then i jump it and it starts then runs for a few days and then it does it again. i know it is not a battery problem since i just bought a new battery last week. what does anybody think it is. is it the generator and if so how do i get it checked out to be sure or are there any tests to see what the problem could be?

11-17-2004, 04:46 PM	#2
bmxmon Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 950	Re: i think its a generator issue Mine is doing this exact same thing. Mine is to the point where when i shut it off, it makes ticking noises inside it and if you feel it, you can feel it vibrating. One way i would think that you could tell is when you turn your car off, if the GEN light comes and stays on for awhile. This is what mine does. Probably time to buy a new one.

11-17-2004, 10:59 PM	#3
Ron1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 1999 Location: Vancouver, WA USA Posts: 439	Re: i think its a generator issue I had a similar problem with both my 65's. It turned out to be the battery cables. They were worn out. I replaced them with a larger gauge cable and the problems went away. Ron __________________ 65 Mustang Fastback 347 Stroker, C4 with 4.56 10.68 @ 122 N/A 9.74 @ 137 w/ N2O www.fastspecialties.com

11-18-2004, 10:05 AM	#4
KiltedBanshees93GT Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Pigeon Forge Tn Posts: 611	Re: i think its a generator issue The gen is probibly part of the prob, but I would also recommend going with a heavier gauge cable. My 66 was getting bad heat fade, and the cables did a world of difference. (thanks to the long tubes,she was still eating a starter every 6 months, but thats another story). For the money its definalty worth upgrading from the stockers. J __________________ ____________ '66 Mustang Coupe- AKA "Lenore" on disability for a (long) bit '93 GT Mostly stock AKA "Fawkes" Rice Haters Club Member #239 "I find your lack of faith...disturbing." "Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats." H. L. Mencken

11-18-2004, 11:22 AM	#5
mitchbar Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 2	Re: i think its a generator issue i know that it isnt my cables because last month i had to replace them with heavier cables and i also got a new battery. so the only thing i can think of is that it is my generator .

11-18-2004, 08:43 PM	#6
mustangII460 Factoy Five Roadster Join Date: May 2000 Location: Sevier Co,Tennessee Posts: 1,681	Re: i think its a generator issue Go to auto zone and have them check your alternator, its free. If its good then id say your starter is gone. __________________ Frank

11-29-2004, 09:40 AM	#8
PKRWUD Junior Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Ventura, California Posts: 8,981	Re: i think its a generator issue Odds are it's one of three things: 1) One or both battery cables aren't tight enough. 2) A failing generator. 3) A small drain on the system. I suspect it's number 3. If it was the generator, a jump start wouldn't sufficiently charge the battery enough to last for a few days. The car would have trouble starting the next time you tried. What I would do if I were you is to get a simple test light, disconnect the negative battery cable from the battery, attach the alligator clip from the test light to the negative cable terminal, and touch the tip of the test probe to the negative post on the battery. Make sure everything in the car is turned off, and that the doors are closed. If the test light lights up at all, you have a drain on the battery somewhere. The next step is to have a friend hold the test light to the battery post, watching the light, while you remove the fuses one by one until the test light goes out. When that happens, you will know which circuit the short is in, and you can start looking for it. Make sure that the doors are closed when ever you do this, including when you pull the fuses. If a door is open, the dome light will create a drain, and light up the test light, giving you false results. Take care, ~Chris __________________ Webmaster: Rice Haters Club Jim Porter Racing Peckerwoods Pit Stop Support Your Local RED & WHITE!

12-01-2004, 09:21 PM	#9
z3beemer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Valparaiso, IN USA Posts: 56	Re: i think its a generator issue Check to make sure your engine and chassis are grounded. Don't take it for granted that with all that metal bolted together it has to be grounded, it may not be. One way to check is take the negative jumper cable, attach one end to the negative post of the battery and the other end to a good ground on the engine, then try to start the car. If it starts, it's a ground problem. It tha'st the problem you can fix it by running a second ground cable directly from the battery to somewhere on the engine (like a intake manifold bolt. Be sure it's not a painted area or aluminum.