Last Week while I was driving I noticed a small batterie shaped light come on. I looked at the gauge that shows your batterie voltage and it showed normal. Truck acted fine (1997 Ford F250 7.3 diesel), and shortly after (mabe 5 miles or so) the light when off.Last night when I started it I noticed that light (along with the others that come on when you crank the engine), stayed on. I moved the truck about 200‘ and shut it off (light was still on). This morning when I cranked my truck the light stayed on. Then, a few miles down the road, it went off. It came back on about 30 miles later, and stayed on till I got to work (another 8 miles or so). Truck is running fine.I am guessing it is not my regular batterie (since the gauge shows normal), so is it the batterie for the glow plugs?So, I got out my manual and it says if that light comes on, to have the charging system checked? How? Who does that (preferably besides the dealer)? What kind of out of cost am I looking at? Any help?
Could be the alternator or the battery. It is most probably the alternator. You could take it to an auto parts store. They can test it while its running. You will have to find someone reputable to do the work if it need replacing.
Sounds like you need a new battery, but have it tested at your local auto parts store. The national chain stores like autozone and advance auto will test your battery and charging system for free in their parking lot.
On your diesel you will have 2 batteries and an alternator with a voltage regulator built in to it. You do not have a separate battery for your glow plugs, they work off the 2 main batteries. As far as someone checking your system, most of the nationwide auto parts chains will do this for free( auto zone, oreillys, etc.), just take it by and tell them what you said here. They should be able to point you in the right direction. Make sure you do this pretty quickly, or you might end up on the side of the road. A diesel will operate for a while with a bad alternator/voltage regulator, but when the batteries go dead the truck stops. Good luck!!
