2000 Ford Explorer battery gauge staying low, replaced the battery with a new one. No noise form belt or alternator. Belt might have a very little more play in it. Lights aren't dimming, turn signals and power windows operating ok, but the gauge will dip a little more when putting fan on. The gauge has always sat on the bottom of the battery icon but in the past week it's dipped down to about 20% and stayed there. Any ideas? Thanks

While its running take your ground wire(black)off your battery if it stays running your alternator is functioning and my guesd is your belt is loose or you have a faulty gauge if its reading close to 14 volts its not reading low that's normal

hi,

high amperages being drawn here. have the alternator and battery tested. check and clean your battery connection, alternator charge wire on both ends. check and see how tight the serpentine belt is. it might need a new tensioner can you spin the alternator by hand?..jm

Probably a faulty voltage regulator.

maybe a busted timing belt

The squealing noise you describe is usually from a slipping belt. The belt tensioner may be faulty and not keeping the belt tight enough, the alternator is charging and putting a load on the belt when you first start the engine. If the belt squeaked constantly I would say the belt is glazed.

sounds like your belt broke. replace with a new belt. battery light is on because the belt is not spinning the alternator. If it busted you should be able to pull it right out. Make sure to check the tensioner pulley, alternator pulley, power steering pump pulley and ac compressor pulley for free play(if you can make it spin with your hand it's good) and make sure that they're not binding or making any grinding noises. If the belt has never been replaced, then most likely it gave out.

the cerpenteen belt that runs the fan, powersteering pump, alternator(battery charger), and water pump broke. if the belt just broke from being old, just replace it. but check all of the pullys to make sure they spin relitivly easy. if you find one that dosen't spin easily, it could need replaced too.

i would take the belt off and then check the idler pulley assembly..it could be worn out..since the belt is off check the alternator pulley for any play also. A loose belt will not help the battery to keep a charge. if everything looks o.k. and you said you have a new battery and belt then it looks like your alternator went bad. Hope this helps.

replace the drive belt and have the alternator tested

The loud whine you speak of indicates one of two things a bad serpentine belt or alternator, The first thing would be to check the belt.Look for cracks worn spots or glazing. If the belt looks ok then take the belt off and start the engine for a minute or so and listen for noise.