As I'm driving along, I get the battery light coming for a few minutes then going out.

Is this a sign my alternator is on the fritz?

 

It's a sign you're having electrical issues.

Put a multi-meter on the battery and the alternator to see how many volts your rig is producing.

Stewart

 

I've had mine do the same thing with aftermarket alternators. Replaced with factory one and haven't had a problem since.

 

True, but until he can ascertain what is causing the problem, he'll just be throwing parts at it.

It could be as simple as a corroded ground, a bad terminal connection, and bad positive connection on the alternator, a bad alternator, a battery that needs to have water added to the cells, a bad battery, etc.

There are sooooooo many reasons that can cause the light to come on.

Stewart

 

Install a didital/analogue gauge from (glowshift.com). Installed one first time I got stranded in the woods. Good to monitor when something is starting to go wrong. They look good too.

 

A Obd scan tool, Obd gauges or even a Bluetooth Obd dongle can also be helpful.

If I didn't have the Obd gauges on my tunner I think I would get a Bluetooth dongle those look pretty cool and it would work on all of my vehicles which would be handy.

 

You can also get your battery load tested at a local auto parts store. Some of the quick lane shops will have these available as well so you don't have to remove the battery.

When does the light come on?

When my alternator was dying the light would come on at full throttle and my truck would fall on its face until I let off. Meaning the alternator was charging at idle but not under a load.

 

In addition to checking the connections also check the field control plug (the only plugged in wires on the alternator). I had one that was loose and so the alternator would intermittently cut in and out. Bought a replacement and the same thing happened. Finally figured out it was the darn repair guy and once I plugged it in properly everything worked.