Ok, I have a 2005 V6 and I have replaced the alternator twice (Warranty). I have modified the car to add a gt grill with the foglamps and also added custom leather seats that are heated. I'm guessing that I am now drawing more than the alternator can handle. Problem is that I don't know squat about alternators.
Am I totally off with my assumption that it's the accessories causing the problem?
Can you test the amount of draw from an alternator so that you can see if the factory alternator is rated for the amount of output necessary?
Can you just put in an alternator that has higher output and will compensate for the added accessories?
Will the dealer replace the alternator with a "Bigger" one under warranty if they realize that the accessories are the possible cause of the problems or will they tell me it's my problem since I added the accessories
Any help would be appreciated. When it dies it dies immediatly and I have ended up broken down in some not so great locations.
Unless you replaced the stereo head unit with a more powerful one I doubt if the lights and heated seats alone would be casuing charging issues. Did Ford look at any other possible sources, e.g. grounding issues? Doubt if Ford would replace the alternator with a higher capacity model.
The problem actually didn't show up until the heated seats were installed. But even then it goes months before the alternator dies. It just seems that it is slowly killing the alternator. Not sure though.
Not sure what type of grounding issues you're talking about? The alternator? Or the accessories that I added? I have double and triple checked the connections on those. The seats and fog lamps are definately grounded properly.
The problem actually didn't show up until the heated seats were installed. But even then it goes months before the alternator dies. It just seems that it is slowly killing the alternator. Not sure though.
Not sure what type of grounding issues you're talking about? The alternator? Or the accessories that I added? I have double and triple checked the connections on those. The seats and fog lamps are definately grounded properly.
So it's not just draining the battery, it's actually damaging the alternator? What is failing on the alternator? Bearings or it just quits charging?
Just quits charging. The dealership just tests it, says it's bad, replace it and send me on my way. I asked them about checking the draw vs the rated output and they looked at me like I was insane. I'm sure because they assume ford put the right alternator into the right car. I'm afraid to talk to them about the accessories because they may say Oh, then you owe us for all the warranty work we did.
Did you ever get an answer to your question? I had charging issues with my 05 V6 and they kept blaming it on the aftermarket addons (dvd/nav indash, 2 amps, cap, sirius, music keg, neon). So I had them charge up the battery and I disconnected all the aftermarket stuff from the car and brought it back. It died in the driveway to the service dept. They replaced the positive battery cable and terminal and it has been fine for 4 months now.
They just replaced it again. No real answer. I'm waiting for it to die again. I have been running my Fog Lights and Seat heaters less to avoid problems and haven't had any problems so far. Good to know about the battery cable though. If it happens again, I'll give that a look
Did you ever get an answer to your question? I had charging issues with my 05 V6 and they kept blaming it on the aftermarket addons (dvd/nav indash, 2 amps, cap, sirius, music keg, neon). So I had them charge up the battery and I disconnected all the aftermarket stuff from the car and brought it back. It died in the driveway to the service dept. They replaced the positive battery cable and terminal and it has been fine for 4 months now.
I don't mean to threadjack (well I guess I do, if I'm typing here ) but byoung2, I notice in your post you mentioned you have a Music Keg. I have one too (C-710). I was wondering which head unit did you go with for your Music Keg. I want to get a new head unit in the future so I can install my Music Keg in the car and at the moment am a little lost for what head unit (preferrably in dash DVD Unit) to go with.
I don't know I have a 200 watt sony head unit and a 600 watt subwoofer amp and fog lights and my alternator has been fine and i have had my 05 stang for almost a year now. (yes I bought it used with only 14,000 miles on it) so i don't know what could be wrong with your alternator. I hope you get it figured out soon though. let us know what you find out.
I don't mean to threadjack (well I guess I do, if I'm typing here ) but byoung2, I notice in your post you mentioned you have a Music Keg. I have one too (C-710). I was wondering which head unit did you go with for your Music Keg. I want to get a new head unit in the future so I can install my Music Keg in the car and at the moment am a little lost for what head unit (preferrably in dash DVD Unit) to go with.
I had my music keg (KHD-CX910) left over from the car I traded in. It seems a little outdated now that I have a video ipod, but I like the fact that it is always in my car, unlike the ipod! The keg is connected to my DDX-7015 indash DVD with KNA-DV4100 navigation. After the dvd, the music keg is the most used source on the head unit.
The DDX-7015 is two years old and is showing it's age, now that the newer dvd/nav units have traffic and weather over satellite radio, updatable maps on sd memory, and bluetooth connections. There is a new Kenwood (DNX7100) that has a usb port and ipod video support that I would get if I didn't already have a system in my car.
I had my music keg (KHD-CX910) left over from the car I traded in. It seems a little outdated now that I have a video ipod, but I like the fact that it is always in my car, unlike the ipod! The keg is connected to my DDX-7015 indash DVD with KNA-DV4100 navigation. After the dvd, the music keg is the most used source on the head unit.
The DDX-7015 is two years old and is showing it's age, now that the newer dvd/nav units have traffic and weather over satellite radio, updatable maps on sd memory, and bluetooth connections. There is a new Kenwood (DNX7100) that has a usb port and ipod video support that I would get if I didn't already have a system in my car.
Awesome thanks for the info man. I too pulled my Music Keg out of the car I traded in. I really loved it when it was in my Cavalier. I've been looking around for a decent DVD/CD/Video head unit to as the replacement unit for the Shaker when I finally upgrade. I see Phatnoise offers a Phatbox for the Ford Mustang but can't guarantee support for the 2005 and models which really stinks...but hopefully soon, I'll be able to find the right head unit and have the Keg back in the car. I agree with you it's outdated (a buddy of mine is running a WiFi set from Rockford-Fosgate, I believe, where he can download music from his home computer to his car...which is pretty cool) but nothing beats having all my music with me inside my car at a touch of a couple of buttons.
They just replaced it again. No real answer. I'm waiting for it to die again. I have been running my Fog Lights and Seat heaters less to avoid problems and haven't had any problems so far. Good to know about the battery cable though. If it happens again, I'll give that a look
Taking a wild guess in the dark here, but maybe the alternator isn't your problem. Maybe it's your starter drawing too much power. Again, taking a guess but I remember seeing a commercial for AutoZone where a guy had a similiar problem to yours and the techs at AutoZone discovered that it wasn't the alternator that was the problem but rather the starter that they replaced from the happy customer.
Might be worth looking into (the starter that is, not AutoZone...that's completely up to you).
...could also be the power draw from the accessory delay, like the seats stayin on for 10 minutes every time you turn off the car? But that would mean that you sit in your car for 10 minutes without opening the door...so unless you're a cop on a stakeout or a high school kid at makeout mountain, probably not the cause!
2005 Mustang V6 Alternator with Mods 
) but byoung2, I notice in your post you mentioned you have a Music Keg. I have one too (C-710). I was wondering which head unit did you go with for your Music Keg. I want to get a new head unit in the future so I can install my Music Keg in the car and at the moment am a little lost for what head unit (preferrably in dash DVD Unit) to go with.
