Battery light flashing 05 focus

So wife calls and tells me battery light on focus is flashing.. so I am thinking alternator - is this project going to really suck tonight in the rain?? Looks like it comes out from the bottom after removing the engine mount? I hate this car

depends on what motor you have methinks. but here is a guide.

http://www.focushacks.com/index.php?modid=45&ht=Removing%20/%20Replacing%20Alternator%20(Zetec)

check your battery terminals first though. the battery in our 03 is pretty old I think and the terminals get that chalky buildup on them over time. most little electrical gremlins for us so far have been solved by just unhooking the battery and cleaning the terminals and wires real good with a wire brush. I realize its more of a band aid fix and at some point I will actually need to replace something.

I am not particularly fond of working on this car either.

thanks for the link - thats differnt and looks a lot beter than what i had found on google.. yeah going to check everything else out first - just found out it started a couple days ago she just forgot to tell me

When the battery light started flashing on my 03 focus I made it about 10 more miles before the entire electrical system started going nuts. I had a bad alternator. Check your connections first.

another canoe

Often the light flashing is the result of worn out brushes. Mostly noticeable at higher rpm.

I had a mexican escort once.

Well I looked at it last night - the terminals looks pretty bad along with the connection at the alternator - cleaned them all up, tightened everything down and so far the light hasnt come on - 13.8-14v. Hope that does it..

when the alternator went out on my f150, it would only come on above 4500rpm at first, then it started coming on at lower and lower rpms until it stayed on. be sure to wring it out and see if the light stays off

Well the light came one twice yesterday for about 10 seconds while she drove. I took it for a 20 minute drive with high beams, hazards, wipers and windows opening and closeing at high and low RPM and never once saw the ligt come on. Today she drove for 75 miles and the ligt never came on.

Those alternators are controlled by the ECU. They send a digital signal to the ecu, and receive data to control charging rate. They generally will charge, even with the comm wires broken or the regulator comm down, but they won't charge at their highest rate.

If that is the problem either get a low mileage used unit, or a Ford rebuilt. Lots of the rebuilt units don't have the right specs for the comm line.

Yep, my experience with Fords says you will need a new or rebuilt alternator.

When the current one gets REALLY bad, it will make the lights and wipers go really nuts....and of course, it will be a dark rainy night when it finally dies.

My parents' 05 Focus has been doing the same thing. After a new Alternator it was fixed. But recently it has needed a: fuel pump, rear bearings (plus knuckle assembly), and about $2000 worth of other parts in the last year. It has been a great car until now, and I feel like it's starting to fall apart. Is yours doing the same thing?

Steven

Tthe alternators that Ford uses have built in voltage regulators, the ECU having no control

This is the first real issue with it in 150K miles.. Light started to go on more today so I went ahead and ordered a new alternator for it - project looks like its going to really really suck. Alternator in my jeep is also bad but that is like a 10 minue job.