My truck broke down.

[Root beer]

Today it finally happen. >. I got a 1988 F-150 pickup and it older then me lol. Infact my dad had it since I was born lol.  Few years ago we put a starter in it and had replace it several time and today i was driving down the road and it just all sudden cut off completly dead rolling down the road. Lucky there was no cars behind me or infront of me. I let truck roll to side of road and got out check battery connection everything was connect then I went hmm and just turn key over radio didnt come on I was like oh no this is bad, then I hit the starter button it didnt even turn over or try to crank.

I was like this is real bad. I called my dad and ask him what can I do, but I already did what he told me to do. He came over and check it out him self and he touch battery with screw driver it started sparking and smoking. Evidence number 1 something shorten out.

Long short story tow truck finally arrive, dad think starter might have shorten out, but I also think alternator might have something do with this. AH well we'll find out tommrow when shop call us back.

My truck got way beyond 250,000 miles. Pretty much time for a new one.

Anyone want to make a down payment on a '99 F-150 4x4, V-8, 5.7 liter, with 4inch lift and some pipes? Lol jk. I wish I could afford that.

[Claude]

I would put my money on the alternator, if it was the starter you would have had trouble starting it, not stopping while it was running.

But what does not make sence if the battery was live, since the car should have sucked all the power out of it when the alternator died.

Take the alternator to autozone or advance, they will test it for ya, and explain to them the situation, they might have some helpfull advice for ya.

If it is the alternator or starter, they are both pretty easy to replace, I have replaced both on a 91 ford van, so if anything it should be easier.

Maybe when it hits 300,000 you should junk it, does it have the 351? if so it should be good till 300,000 as long as it has been taken care of (alright maybe not should be good, but has a good chance of being good lol).

[RecMar8541]

I would also say the alt.  Put a volt meter to it on dc and see what kind of voltage you are getting.  Im betting about 9v possibly 10v.  This is enough voltage to cause a spark, but not enough to satisfy consumption.  What happens is the alt dies, then the truck will run off battery until battery dies.  Just guessing here, but did the guages all go dead shortly before the truck stopped?  Some things to check, alt belt tension, alt wire connections, starter connections, and battery voltage.  Also if you can get the truck to start, the voltage reading at the battery should be around 14v with the alternator charging.  

Good luck, and the upside is the alt isnt that hard nor expensive to replace if you need to!

Mike

[Root beer]

Shop havn't called my house, but I'm assuming they called my dad work and told him. If they have dad hasn't called me back.

No, I dont remember the guages moving when I try to cranked it. I thought at first my battiers got disconnect, then I relize it has to be starter or alt. Now I really believe it the alt. We'll see what shop says.