Hi folks -

I'm new here, life long Ford fan.

I do have a problem, though, that I need some help with.

I have a (Canadian model) 2005 Ford Escape XLT 3.0 2WD. I've had the car since '07 and aside from regular oil changes & some minor brake service, the car has been flawless for 12 years.

Today, on my way to work (5:00 a.m.) I noticed my headlights were unusually dim, as were my dash lights. Power windows very slow. A couple of times, while stopped in traffic, everything came back to normal for a few seconds, then all was dim again. By the time I made it to work (30 miles, in the dark), headlights were as dim as candles.

**Charging/battery light never lit up (???), and the car's not throwing any codes.

I'm assuming that it's likely the alternator. My battery was getting low a few months ago (it had been the original), but I installed a new one & all was good. Charging has been solid ever since.

However, I've also been reading horror stories about the "smart junction box". There don't seem to be any weird gremlins or anything, so I'm hoping it's just the alternator, although the lack of alternator/battery warning light concerns me.

I'm at work at the moment, of course, and unable to get to any of my tools, volt/ohm meter, charger, etc., and hoping I can make it home tonight. Don't know what I'll do tomorrow though, as I have to get to work & have no other vehicle at present.

Any thoughts on this? Is it most likely the alternator (I hope)??

 

 

Thanks! The car has about 120K miles on it or so. It's definitely the original alternator, and it's on its second battery. IF I make it home, my mechanic (his shop's across the road from me) will take a peek, check the charge rate, etc.

I have other concerns, too - the area where I park at work has recently had a plague of rats, and lots of vehicles have had wiring damage. I hope that didn't happen to my car, as that can be a serious issue to diagnose! I did find some rat droppings on top of the motor a few weeks ago, but I cleaned them off & there are no new ones. Everything seemed to be working fine after that. Can't see any chewed wires, and everything I can see looks clean, tight, and intact. So far.

We did recently have a LOT of snow (for this area, at least), and tons of salt everywhere. The Escape alternator is very low in the engine compartment, so I expect it's coated in salt. That couldn't help any.

When I spoke to the mechanic, he said it's a bit unusual for the warning light to not come on at all, although not unheard of.

 

Well, at this point it appears the car is fixed. New alternator (and belt - no point in not replacing the 14-year-old original while the car was apart), and it seems to be working.

Interestingly, the shop said that when they first pulled it into the shop, it was charging. Then after a couple of minutes it stopped and started discharging.

All-in, bill was just shy of $800 Canadian. Considering the number of hours that went into it (and the cost of the high-end Wilson alternator), I guess that's okay. The mechanic is a bit of a friend, and looks after us. He actually did an extra hour or two of labor that he didn't charge us for.

Hope it all keeps going - I do NOT want to have to do this again!!