Battery Light
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Senior User
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Battery Light
So friday my truck's battery light came on. I check all the connections on the batteries, which are only 3 months old btw, and they are tight. Any thoughts on what would cause the battery light to come on. Some times when I accelerate hard it will flash. There seems to be no loss in electrical power anywhere either. The only thing I noticed is that when I start my truck, my alarm will automaticly lock the doors, well now since the light came on it will lock then unlock. Any suggestions? Thanks!!
Ps. It also died one time right after I started it on friday. Since then that has not repeated.
Ps. It also died one time right after I started it on friday. Since then that has not repeated.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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This is wierd. My light went on Friday (April 13), put a meter on it and the ALT was putting out a little over 12v. Replaced the ALT that evening and I noticed (I thought) for the first time kind of a subtle pulsating in the lights (interior, headlights) expecially while idleing. On Saturday I replaced the batteries. I've had the truck 5 years and over 200,000 miles. The ALT and batteries were all original. I still notice the pulsating though. Is this normal?
Posting Guru
Joined: May 2006
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From: Bryson City NC
Same problem for me ! Had alt rebuilt they did a **** job!! While on vacation in FL the alt packed it up again. Checked a couple of parts houses and I had the option of rebuilt or new!! Well after the the previouse experience I went with a new Duralast ! So far been runnin like a champ! 
Got to be the easiest alt to replace that I have ever seen!!
Smokie
Got to be the easiest alt to replace that I have ever seen!!Smokie
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Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 300
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From: Kentucky
My 01' PSD alternator went at 186,000 so I just replaced it with a new one I picked up at O'Reilly auto parts. That cured my problem immediately. BTW that is the easiest alternator to change I've seen. I sold the truck last month, still hadn't replaced the original serpentine belt. No cracks or odd wear patterns, etc. , still has original batteries, too. I always did my own maintenance on the truck, so the little things that get overlooked were taken care of. Clean posts, good connections with anticorrosive paste, etc. it really does help, espescially on direct current/voltage.
Bill in KY
Bill in KY
Last edited by hodgekuter; Apr 15, 2007 at 10:54 AM. Reason: spelling
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I thought it might be the alternator, especialy when the light would flicker under high RPMs. Could is there anyway to test to see if its the voltage regulator. I had one of those go out on an old IDE 7.3 i had.
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From: Alamo city
Okay, so now I have the flickering battery light. Checked battery fluids, but the battery light continued to flicker one warm, under 1750 rpm. Now after 20 more miles, it is flickering at all rpm's.
Alternator?
Alternator?
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 420
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From: Alamo city
Thanx guys.
I decided to check the battery posts and found both positive posts were corroded. Oh well, guess it's been about a year since I last service the batteries. So, I cleaned the posts and put everything back together then let my wife take it for a test drive...no flickering battery light.
This morning, take my son to practice and it does well...20 miles down the road the flickering starts again...10 more miles and it goes constant. However, it almost seems "bump related", meaning, I hit a bump just right and the light stops flickering and stays off. Then a few more miles down the road, it starts to flicker again.
I just replaced the AC blower fan on my classic BMW, which was acting much the same way...the fan may or may not work, until you hit a bump just right then it would come on...another bump and it may go off. Replaced fan motor...cooling like a charm. Worn out brushes.
What do you think...bad alternator brushes?
I decided to check the battery posts and found both positive posts were corroded. Oh well, guess it's been about a year since I last service the batteries. So, I cleaned the posts and put everything back together then let my wife take it for a test drive...no flickering battery light.
This morning, take my son to practice and it does well...20 miles down the road the flickering starts again...10 more miles and it goes constant. However, it almost seems "bump related", meaning, I hit a bump just right and the light stops flickering and stays off. Then a few more miles down the road, it starts to flicker again.
I just replaced the AC blower fan on my classic BMW, which was acting much the same way...the fan may or may not work, until you hit a bump just right then it would come on...another bump and it may go off. Replaced fan motor...cooling like a charm. Worn out brushes.
What do you think...bad alternator brushes?