Dead truck......
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 289
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From: Kernersville, NC
Dead truck......
I went to the store a few minutes ago and the starangest thing happened. All of the gauges stop working, the abs light and srs light come on on my 04 sd...the truck makes it home but now is dead...the batteries are drained...they are only two months old. i just put a charger on them and they are dead...i am thinking alternator but i dont have a tester...any other ideas....thanks
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 361
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From: Missoula, MT
to eliminate your batteries, even though they are pretty new, you could do a voltage drop test on them. Place a volt meter across each battery individually and have someone crank the engine. You shouldn't see much more than 2-3 volts. Most auto part stores will test your alt., but I heard it's a pain to get off.
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 96
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My alternator died last thursday. The only thing that happened to me was the red Battery light on the dash lit up, didnt lose gauges or anything. Turned the stereo, heater and interior lights off and made it home. (Brrrr it was cold drive home with about 20degree ambient temp...) If it is the alternator it is doable without removing the cooling shrouds and fan. Take the electronics off the alt, remove the bolts and let the serpentine pop off. THen you can get it tested and if it is the culprit its not toooooo bad of a price. I paid $189 for mine at NAPA. When you go to put it back on loosely bolt the alternator back on, slide the serpentine belt off of the middle top pulley where it has a smooth mating surface get the grooves lined up on the alternator/tensioner/AC unit (My first go around I was a groove off on the AC unit) and its kinda tough, but you can pull the belt enough by hand to extend the tensioner get enough slack to slide the belt back under the top middle pulley. You may get some bloody knuckles (I did) but its a definate time saver. When the belt is back on, tighten down the Alt bolts and plug er back in! G'luck and let us know!
-Torsten
-Torsten
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 289
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From: Kernersville, NC
I got home today after having the batteries charge for 12 hours and it starts fine with the old alternator ...the abs light is still on and now my ac wont blow through the vents...only the dash....this is getting agrea=evating fast....
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
From: Kernersville, NC
well i replaced my alternator with a new motorcraft and two new batteries...she is back to normal..Thanks for all of the help and insight...
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