ugh. Was hoping to say how I was able to rectify the day this weekend by replacing the alternator in my van! Only 16-18 inches of work room and most of that taken up by a fan cover; I digress.
Story;
2003 Econoline bought earlier this year to save depreciating newer minivan. ( Ill do a write up later about the economics later, just help me fix for now).
pretty great overall, a few things don't work like power windows and computer above the rearview mirror (having trouble finding the right diagram for the fuse box) but I did fix the power seat with a fuse change!
always starts well. Only other issue was last weekend (10 days ago) I was trying to jumpstart (older family truck, will write up in DIY later), anyways turned off van tried to restart and barely turned over. then jumpstarted van using my commuter car. may have been beginning of end for alternator
ok, this past saturday. on an errand it won't start back up. someone tried to jumpstart me twice but cut off less than 30 seconds.
bought a new battery and alternator. installed the battery and was able to start and drive home(5 miles).
got home, installed alternator in the van(yay for me!) and kept driving over the weekend(60 miles or so).
running an errand with my daughter, when we go to leave it is dead.
wife meets us and jumpstarts after charging for several minutes, drive home, leave running for almost 20 minutes with lights and air on and it never dies. turned off and and it won't even turn over-nothing.
Now, can jump start and it will run, turn off and nothing. there was some corrosion around the posts but I cleaned those pretty good and tightened the connection-doesn't really explain what the problem could be since it worked most of the weekend though.
Theory-
1.Alternator went out and took something with it( no idea what this could be, a fuse?)
2.Brand new battery is now worthless, doubtful since it got us home the first time and ran throughout the weekend.
3. Ghosts? idk I am at a loss.
any ideas