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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 04:42 PM
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cyborghunter
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From: bend or
alt ?

how would one go about testing if my alternator is working correctly? i keep having a dead battery after it sits for a few hours while at work or overnight. this started friday morning the battery is less than 6 months old so its gotta be a charging issiue right?
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 05:10 PM
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rla2005
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Originally Posted by cyborghunter
how would one go about testing if my alternator is working correctly? i keep having a dead battery after it sits for a few hours while at work or overnight. this started friday morning the battery is less than 6 months old so its gotta be a charging issiue right?
Not necessarily.

Take the alternator out and have it tested.

Another quick method is to charge up the battery, then measure the voltage without the truck running. Start the truck, then measure the voltage across the battery again. If the alternator is charging the voltage with the engine running should be higher than with the truck not running. This is just a basic test, the alternator really needs to be tested.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 06:28 PM
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From: bend or
i did that about 12-13 v off and 14.4v while at idle. but i cleaned all the gunk outta the conections well see if that helps.
 
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Old Mar 5, 2012 | 06:47 PM
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Those numbers sound reasonable. Corroded connectors and/or bad cables will severely tax the battery, charging and starting system.
 
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