Dead Battery, Advance Auto Says Bad Alternator on 2020

[BobLee338]

I’ve got a 2020 Ranger XLT and the battery(factory) had drained with the cold weather so it wouldn’t start. Hooked a power pack up and it started. Drove to my local Advance Auto store and they wanted to test the battery/alternator before selling me a new battery. He ran the test and said I have a bad alternator because it’s outputting 15.1v. I have had no other issues indicating a bad alternator but have read some about the way this system charges and it seems occasionally seeing 15.1v might not be an issue. They wouldn’t sell me a battery because he said the alternator is bad and it would just burn up the new battery. Having a real hard time believing this. Does anyone have any additional info on the charging voltage in these trucks or any similar experiences to this? Just trying to figure out if I need to go to the dealership or if I just need to pick up a battery at a different store. Thanks!

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[Frenchy]

Lol if you have a bad Battery, it can make the Alternator do a bunch of funky things! Get a new battery and see what happens. If you have to, go somewhere else like the Dealer. It's your call on who installs it.

 

[5thranger]

I’ve got a 2020 Ranger XLT and the battery(factory) had drained with the cold weather so it wouldn’t start. Hooked a power pack up and it started. Drove to my local Advance Auto store and they wanted to test the battery/alternator before selling me a new battery. He ran the test and said I have a bad alternator because it’s outputting 15.1v. I have had no other issues indicating a bad alternator but have read some about the way this system charges and it seems occasionally seeing 15.1v might not be an issue. They wouldn’t sell me a battery because he said the alternator is bad and it would just burn up the new battery. Having a real hard time believing this. Does anyone have any additional info on the charging voltage in these trucks or any similar experiences to this? Just trying to figure out if I need to go to the dealership or if I just need to pick up a battery at a different store. Thanks!

Sounds like he wants to sell you an alternator as well as the battery. At that point you might ask him what type of lube they use.

 

[BobLee338]

Sounds like he wants to sell you an alternator as well as the battery. At that point you might ask him what type of lube they use.

? The funny thing is, he said they can’t even get the alternator. My initial thought was, it’s below freezing out and he didn’t want to change a battery out right before they closed.

 

[IdahoRanger]

I’ve got a 2020 Ranger XLT and the battery(factory) had drained with the cold weather so it wouldn’t start. Hooked a power pack up and it started. Drove to my local Advance Auto store and they wanted to test the battery/alternator before selling me a new battery. He ran the test and said I have a bad alternator because it’s outputting 15.1v. I have had no other issues indicating a bad alternator but have read some about the way this system charges and it seems occasionally seeing 15.1v might not be an issue. They wouldn’t sell me a battery because he said the alternator is bad and it would just burn up the new battery. Having a real hard time believing this. Does anyone have any additional info on the charging voltage in these trucks or any experiences to this? Just trying to figure out if I need to go to the dealership or if I just need to pick up a battery at a different store. Thanks!

15.1v isn't unusual on these trucks when battery is low. I see that even with my new battery I got a couple months ago.

 

[5thranger]

? The funny thing is, he said they can’t even get the alternator. My initial thought was, it’s below freezing out and he didn’t want to change a battery out right before they closed.

I would go to another store and just get a battery, a lot of things happen when battery is going bad.

 

[BobLee338]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions. Gonna go get a battery at a different store tomorrow. Appreciate you guys help!

 

[Tom_C]

I have a 2020, October build, so it is just over 4 years. I started getting funky electrical things happen, but it still started. I bought a diehard online from advance auto and they installed it (under my watchful supervision). Everything immediately started acting right and I didn't lose any functionality. Drivers auto window still worked without a reset, didn't lose any audio settings, etc.

I would have bought an interstate if I could have found a dealer, and not have to take it to my mechanic.

 

[airline tech]

Well within the realm of normal operating parameters but it should not remain consistent in that 15.1 Volts for a good battery.
The only time I ever saw that much was when I was at 75% SOC, and I was in (Regenerative) charge, coasting down a hill.

But:
Due to the age of the battery, this just may be a true reference to the normal operating and function of the BMS - if we reflect back to (Aging Battery Algorithm) in my thread it was uncertain exactly what the (Algorithm) was (Increase or Decrease) the voltage over time.
1. Increase - To overcome the Increase of the Battery IR, to push the voltage / amperage through the battery
2. Decrease - To lower the now (Increased) battery temperature that is created from the (Increased Battery IR)

We settled on #1 as being the answer to the question, thus the importance of resetting the BMS system after a battery replacement.

So, replace the battery and reset the BMS and then monitor what it is doing, ensure it drops back down to a more normal range and a max of 14.7 or so.

 

[harringtondav]

Alternator or voltage regulator. Easy enough to diagnose with a simple multimeter. ...you will also need a new fully charged battery.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how...ate=ive&vld=cid:287a6ac6,vid:ttQkT_F-fFE,st:0

 

[Frenchy]

Alternator or voltage regulator. Easy enough to diagnose with a simple multimeter. ...you will also need a new fully charged battery.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+test+ford+ranger+alternator&sca_esv=4cc4a4e95700dd23&sxsrf=ADLYWIJM_JJC3GVi2Ngic5sG9WrM8pZfdw:1736692479352&ei=_9KDZ9-TFaHL0PEPjf772Ao&oq=test+ford+ranger+al&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiE3Rlc3QgZm9yZCByYW5nZXIgYWwqAggAMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yCxAAGIAEGIYDGIoFMgsQABiABBiGAxiKBTILEAAYgAQYhgMYigUyCBAAGIAEGKIESLdtUIYMWKs4cAF4AZABAJgB_AGgAf0QqgEGMTAuNy4yuAEByAEA-AEBmAIUoALyEcICChAAGLADGNYEGEfCAgoQIxiABBgnGIoFwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAgsQLhiABBiRAhiKBcICChAuGIAEGEMYigXCAg4QLhiABBixAxjRAxjHAcICCxAAGIAEGLEDGIMBwgIREC4YgAQYsQMYgwEYxwEYrwHCAgoQABiABBhDGIoFwgIQEC4YgAQYQxjHARiKBRivAcICExAuGIAEGLEDGNEDGEMYxwEYigXCAgsQLhiABBixAxiDAcICDRAuGIAEGLEDGEMYigXCAhAQLhiABBixAxhDGIMBGIoFwgINEAAYgAQYsQMYQxiKBcICBRAAGIAEwgIIEAAYgAQYsQPCAgoQABiABBgUGIcCwgIIEAAYFhgKGB6YAwCIBgGQBgWSBwYxMS43LjKgB6GRAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:287a6ac6,vid:ttQkT_F-fFE,st:0

He's going to need new battery before he checks that alternator

 

[harringtondav]

He's going to need new battery before he checks that alternator

.....my last comment above.

 

[Frenchy]

.....my last comment above.

You stated it in a way that he doesn't have to replace the battery in order to diagnose the alternator..........

 

[BobLee338]

Not to side track the thread, but I was looking into how to reset the BMS. Seems like ForScan is the preferred method to know for sure it was reset. SO, I went to purchase a ForScan license and it appears as of Dec 18th, license sales have been suspended. See below from the ForScan website:

December 18, 2024 - Suspending Windows and Android FORScan License sales
We were informed by our payment processor, PayPro Global, that they will be unable to send payments to Russian banks anymore due to recent changes in global sanctions against Russia. As a result, we have to suspend sales of FORScan licenses for Windows and Android. We will try to find new payment methods and routes.
We haven't received a similar notification from Apple yet, so thus far FORScan Lite for iOS will remain available in Apple App Store.

I'm gong to request the 2 month trial license since I never did that and hopefully can get it going. I need to adjust for my larger tires anyway to get the speedo closer to correct. Thought you guys might want to know about the license issue. I haven't seen it anywhere on the forum yet.

 

[Frenchy]

Not to side track the thread, but I was looking into how to reset the BMS. Seems like ForScan is the preferred method to know for sure it was reset. SO, I went to purchase a ForScan license and it appears as of Dec 18th, license sales have been suspended. See below from the ForScan website:

December 18, 2024 - Suspending Windows and Android FORScan License sales
We were informed by our payment processor, PayPro Global, that they will be unable to send payments to Russian banks anymore due to recent changes in global sanctions against Russia. As a result, we have to suspend sales of FORScan licenses for Windows and Android. We will try to find new payment methods and routes.
We haven't received a similar notification from Apple yet, so thus far FORScan Lite for iOS will remain available in Apple App Store.

I'm gong to request the 2 month trial license since I never did that and hopefully can get it going. I need to adjust for my larger tires anyway to get the speedo closer to correct. Thought you guys might want to know about the license issue. I haven't seen it anywhere on the forum yet.

A good point. BTW if not mistaken, I believe there are quite a few scan tool options to use for the BMS reset. I say this because you can use Ford FDRS along with the Livenoise my touch Calibrator.

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