battery or alternator shot?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 88
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From: Minneapolis
battery or alternator shot?
Noticed after driving yesterday that the battery guage on the dash was near the left side and staying there. It isn't charging up as I drive and it was getting very difficult to start towards the end of the day. Drives fine, but starting is tough. Is the alternator not charging the battery or is the battery dying and not allowing itself to be charged?
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Floyd, Va
battery or alternator shot?
Check to see what the voltage across the battery posts is before you start the engine. Then measure with it running.
If it is below 12 when running it is either the voltage regulator or alternator. If it is about13-14, check the battery connections and cables and try again.
If your battery is several years old and all connections are good, the battery is the problem.
If everything checks out, you could have something draining the battery when it is not running.
If you do not have a voltmeter, you can take it to most auto parts stores, they can check alternators and batteries.
Tony Warren
Nebraska
If it is below 12 when running it is either the voltage regulator or alternator. If it is about13-14, check the battery connections and cables and try again.
If your battery is several years old and all connections are good, the battery is the problem.
If everything checks out, you could have something draining the battery when it is not running.
If you do not have a voltmeter, you can take it to most auto parts stores, they can check alternators and batteries.
Tony Warren
Nebraska
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
Likes: 3
From: Langhorne, PA
battery or alternator shot?
Chances are, the alternator is wacked. I have the same truck and go through alot of alternators. Most places will check your system for free. Battery might cost $75, Alternator installed-$200, Do it youself maybe$130. The alternator is easy to change but beware the old electrical connector that plugs in the alt. you have to replace the 3-wire connector occasionally.
Junior User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
From: Gladstone
battery or alternator shot?
I went nutty crazy this summer trying to figure this same problem out. I took both the alternator and battery in to Shucks to be 'tested.' They were supposedly both fine. So I went accross the street to GI Joes and bought a new alternator and battery for under $200. Problem solved. Everything worked, and still works, like a dream.
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