2000 Ford Focus problem

[doylerl]

As the title states, I have a 2000 Focus that I am having issues with. First, it died completely about a week ago. No power whatsoever... We had the battery tested, and it failed, so we replaced it. Problem solved... or so we thought. Same problem today... kinda. I got a voltage meter on it today and it tests at 11.65 Volts with key off. It has 10.3 Volts while cranking. When I say "cranking" I mean turning the key, but all I get under the hood is clicking. It will start and run with jumper cables hooked up, but dies shortly after unhooking them. It leads me to believe alternator failure, but the battery is charged up sufficiently (IMO), and no battery warning light appears on the dash. I have no warning lights or dummy lights (CEL). With a brand new battery running just under 12V with key off, it should have plenty of power correct? Could this be a computer malfunction? Any help is appreciated. I just don't want to spend money I don't have on something I don't need. Thanks.

Forgot to mention:
After it died for the second time, it was running like crap but still running, but all the gauges went out... right before dying completely again... ?

[bhazard]

Did you check the voltage while running?

[doylerl]

Did you check the voltage while running?

No, it is getting dark and raining right now, I will check tomorrow and get back to you on that.

[wybnrml]

If you can, take it to Autozone, they can test the altenator and charging system while it's still in the car.

[Nerd Racing]

my vote is the blue oval on the front.

























LOL! Sounds like a voltage regulator to me. Should be in the Alt. on that car.

[FB71]

early Foci (2000-2002) had problems with the positive battery cable. The cable would corrode inside the clamp. DO NOT try to replace just the clamp! I've seen at least 3 minor fires as a result. The cable is the problem, not the clamp, so replacing the clamp doesn't fix the problem. Replace the cable.

[FB71]

minimum battery open circuit voltage (OCV) should be 12.5v, key off. Any less than that is discharged. PCM will shut down the alt if the load is too high for the alt to safely handle, and this includes a discharged battery. 12.00v is considered to be a dead battery, 0% charge. 11.65v tells me that the positive cable has excessive resistance, and the battery is not charging properly while the engine is running. Recharge the battery with a charger (no vehicle charging system is designed to recharge a dead battery), pelace the pos cable, and try again.

[stevewl1164]

ROFLMAO!!!! Now..that is just WRONG!

my vote is the blue oval on the front.

























LOL! Sounds like a voltage regulator to me. Should be in the Alt. on that car.