Alternator going down
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,181
Likes: 1
From: Fairfield, CA
Yes, I'm with you on that, I got the Autozone unit to verify the DC Power Alt was bad. I'll keep it as a spare.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
If you dont have a lot of money then bring the truck back to the mechanic that worked on it. The part has a warranty and if the shop that installed it was reputable and cared about you as a customer and possible repeat buisness they will eat the labor...or atleast thats what would happen in my shop.
Sarge
Then take that money you were going to spend on another alt. and buy the scan guage.
Sarge
Then take that money you were going to spend on another alt. and buy the scan guage.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
I plan on doing this tomorrow, but I wanted to get a voltmeter and test it myself just to see what it says. That's why I was asking what would be the right way to check both batteries and the alternator with voltmeter. 
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
The only way to test them is to remove them and have them load tested. I think that you will find that the diodes are bad in the alt. that was just installed. Unfortunately its not uncommon with the low quality of parts put into reman units now.
I had to install 3 on my dads truck before I got one that worked for more than a day.
Sarge
I had to install 3 on my dads truck before I got one that worked for more than a day.
Sarge
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
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Likes: 1
I just took my dad's truck and got a multimeter, came back and tested mine. The batteries were at about 12.22 before start, then with the key on it went down to 11.30 or so, glow plugs off and started it very slowly went up to 13.5v.
I went and drove it around for 7-10 miles and tested it, and the batteries were 11.55v. Input?
I went and drove it around for 7-10 miles and tested it, and the batteries were 11.55v. Input?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
I would say for sure alt. Looks like you checked everything else, and with onlu 11.5v with the truck running that would confirm my suspicions.
Get that truck back to the garage that replaced it and get it covered under warranty. Shoot if you were closer I would test it for ya right now.
Sarge
Get that truck back to the garage that replaced it and get it covered under warranty. Shoot if you were closer I would test it for ya right now.
Sarge
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Thats pretty much what you did. You proved it wsasnt charging that batteries, assuming you got the same reading from both batteries...Im twidling my thumbs waiting for FEDEX to show up with my alt.
I juist need to decie if Im gonna go with some yellow top optimas or some OEM motor craft batteries. I have a bad taste in my mouth from a red top optima I had in my F150, anyone want to convince me the yellow top is worth the extra $$
And soory to the op for the hijack.
Sarge
I juist need to decie if Im gonna go with some yellow top optimas or some OEM motor craft batteries. I have a bad taste in my mouth from a red top optima I had in my F150, anyone want to convince me the yellow top is worth the extra $$
And soory to the op for the hijack.
Sarge
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
Thats pretty much what you did. You proved it wsasnt charging that batteries, assuming you got the same reading from both batteries...Im twidling my thumbs waiting for FEDEX to show up with my alt.
I juist need to decie if Im gonna go with some yellow top optimas or some OEM motor craft batteries. I have a bad taste in my mouth from a red top optima I had in my F150, anyone want to convince me the yellow top is worth the extra $$
And soory to the op for the hijack.
Sarge
I juist need to decie if Im gonna go with some yellow top optimas or some OEM motor craft batteries. I have a bad taste in my mouth from a red top optima I had in my F150, anyone want to convince me the yellow top is worth the extra $$
And soory to the op for the hijack.
Sarge
I do know that the next batteries I get are going to be Odessey batteries. I looked into them awhile back and I think they looked a bit better. I run their batteries in my ATV's and they get abused bigtime and have never left me stranded.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
Thats pretty much what you did. You proved it wsasnt charging that batteries, assuming you got the same reading from both batteries...Im twidling my thumbs waiting for FEDEX to show up with my alt.
I juist need to decie if Im gonna go with some yellow top optimas or some OEM motor craft batteries. I have a bad taste in my mouth from a red top optima I had in my F150, anyone want to convince me the yellow top is worth the extra $$
And soory to the op for the hijack.
Sarge
I juist need to decie if Im gonna go with some yellow top optimas or some OEM motor craft batteries. I have a bad taste in my mouth from a red top optima I had in my F150, anyone want to convince me the yellow top is worth the extra $$
And soory to the op for the hijack.
Sarge
Both batteries are right around 11.5v after the trucks been running for a while.
Gonna go get a new alternator in my truck today, and hopefully this one will last until I can get any of the DC ones.
I'm using Deka's, mechanic said he's been keeping them instock for 2 years and never had a single one come back to be replaced, so hopefully that's the way it'll play out haha.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,460
Likes: 14
From: The Land Of Time
Yeah I was at autozone today and looked at the yellow top and the cold cranking amps were less than the red. I believe the yellow was 750 and the reds are 1000, but for 185.00 each I may just go with a pair of new Motor Crafts or Delcos.
Like I said convince me otherwise that these are worth the $$,and if you dont mind me asking how do they fit under the OEM battery cover on the driverss side?
And FedEx came and delivered my new DC alt.and cable kit but I was too busy and didnt even look at it. Probly wont get to it until Wenesday now.
Sarge
Like I said convince me otherwise that these are worth the $$,and if you dont mind me asking how do they fit under the OEM battery cover on the driverss side?
And FedEx came and delivered my new DC alt.and cable kit but I was too busy and didnt even look at it. Probly wont get to it until Wenesday now.
Sarge
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: AB,Can
Yeah I was at autozone today and looked at the yellow top and the cold cranking amps were less than the red. I believe the yellow was 750 and the reds are 1000, but for 185.00 each I may just go with a pair of new Motor Crafts or Delcos.
Like I said convince me otherwise that these are worth the $$,and if you dont mind me asking how do they fit under the OEM battery cover on the driverss side?
And FedEx came and delivered my new DC alt.and cable kit but I was too busy and didnt even look at it. Probly wont get to it until Wenesday now.
Sarge
Like I said convince me otherwise that these are worth the $$,and if you dont mind me asking how do they fit under the OEM battery cover on the driverss side?
And FedEx came and delivered my new DC alt.and cable kit but I was too busy and didnt even look at it. Probly wont get to it until Wenesday now.
Sarge
The redtops fit fine.... Better on drivers side than passenger side but they both went in just fine..... even better with a DC alermator and new cables. Its the cable going to the starter on the passenger side that is a touch to short... still doable tho. I bet you can't wait to get that alt in there hey bud?! Lol
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
I just got my new alternator in their, covered by the lifetime warranty so no pennies out of my pocket. So far, drove for 30 miles and no battery light. I checked the voltage on both batteries when I got home, and they were 12.7ish.
Does this sound right?
Does this sound right?