The problem all started when I had a oil leak coming from my truck about a week ago and could not tell where it was coming from. So I took it to my buddies house and used the steam jenny to clean my motor and undercarrage so that I could better tell where the mysterious leak was coming from. Once I let it drip dry I started the truck and pin pointed where it was coming from, it was the front oil rail plug from the left cylinder head. It cost a whoppin $2 and some change for a new o-ring, and problem solved. So in the process of fixing that I got oil all over my engine again so back to my buddies to wash it off. This is where the problem started. I let it drip dry and on my way home i notice my battery light came on and looked at my guage and it was up to 18 just below the red. I figured it was wet and would go back to normal when it dried WRONG! I left it sit for a day or so, and went to start it and my truck was dead...completely. I hooked the battery charger up to it and got it running. the light is still on. I took it to Advanced and had them test the alternator and they said the alternator wasn't charging yet I still had a solid 14volts. Now I'm clueless. Any ideas? I don't want to buy a alternator and install it and have it not fix the problem and be out $140.

 

18 volts is just about as bad as no volts coming from the alternator. The batteries will boil out in no time @ 18v. It's possible for the alternator to provide 14 volts but it's probably draining the batteries when the key/engine is off.

 

You might be able to just replace the regulator. It's a lot cheaper, and since the voltage is too high not too low, that's probably the problem.

You can replace the regulator without cracking the alternator case. The two pin plug that connects to the alternator actually plugs into the regulator.

IIRC, the brushes come with the regulator when you remove it. To put it back on, you hold the brushes compressed with a straightened paper clip, then pull the clip once it's bolted back up.

You want to get it fixed ASAP. The batteries will fry quickly, and once they go bad the voltage shoots way up. If you're lucky, the positive diodes in the alternator fry and limit the voltage as they are designed too. If they don't, new PCM, IDM and every other electronic module...

 

sprayed alternator down with WD-40 including the plugs and terminals and drove the truck for about a half hour without any signs or symptoms that it was showing and so far it's good. Guess if the batteries are good in the morning I should have it licked. Thats if I don't have a draw on the batteries coming from somewhere.

 

if it does have a draw though could it be from the regulator you mentioned? I hope so, anything less expensive than the alternator sounds good. College has me broke and it won't stop raining long enough this summer for me to chance riding the dual sport to work

 

Well I hope the WD works out for you. In the future a product like this would probably be a better choice.

 

I know I should have used something a bit more along those lines, but it's all I had on hand and I just figured water was the issue with it and that WD=water displacement.

 

But the WD will dry and get gummy. Attract allot of unwanted stuff. I have seen alternators ruined by WD. Just a heads up for ya.

 

lately I have been getting pretty good at expecting the worst. I'll add that to the list of pleasent things to anticipate. Guess I was destined to get a new alternator one way or the other.