is it my alternator???
#6489463
03/13/19 08:38 AM
03/13/19 08:38 AM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,688 Illinois
foxkidd44
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,688
Illinois
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okay gang......I noticed my battery light + - came on last night while driving to work............when I gave it some gas...it went off......when I let off......it came back on.........so I unhooked the cable while running......and truck died.....today its not coming on...like no issues at all.......is the alternator failing?? my first guess is yes.....................but I hate to replace it if its not.........those aint cheap
Stand by your principles, Stand by your guns, and victory complete and permanent is sure at last. Abraham Lincoln
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: Diggerman]
#6489529
03/13/19 09:58 AM
03/13/19 09:58 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,227 Alaska and Washington State
waggler
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 9,227
Alaska and Washington State
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Tonight when it gets dark start your truck up park it about ten feet away from a wall with your headlights aiming at the wall, and turn off the engine but leave the lights on. If the lights dim when you turn the truck off that means your alternator is working okay. But if the lights don't dim when you turn it off that means your alternator or something else in the charging system is shot
"My life is better than your vacation"
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6489550
03/13/19 10:29 AM
03/13/19 10:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,894 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,894
williamsburg ks
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unhooking a cable is the old standby shade tree way to check the alternator. if the hot wire isn't corroded, if the belt is good, you need a new one. usually when they start going bad you need to turn on your headlights and heater blower before the vehicle dies. keep running a low amp/voltage charger your going to damage your battery. car/pickup batteries are not made to draw way down like a marine battery. it shortens their life a bunch.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6489570
03/13/19 10:43 AM
03/13/19 10:43 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
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Posts: 21,716
Sandhills Nebraska
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If you can get to the back of the alternator, you can also put a screwdriver against the center of the alternator where the bearing is..if you feel a magnetic pull grab the screwdriver, it's charging. Not a good idea though. If you touch the wrong terminal back there you will pee down your leg.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6489574
03/13/19 10:45 AM
03/13/19 10:45 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
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Sandhills Nebraska
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I keep a $30 load tester/alternator tester handy. I've found many discarded batteries that were discarded for the wrong reason, and were still good batteries.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: Diggerman]
#6489593
03/13/19 11:02 AM
03/13/19 11:02 AM
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 6,224 Kansas
Pawnee
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Posts: 6,224
Kansas
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Voltage regulator? Most nowadays are internal but not real hard to change. There is a hole in back of the alternator that you can stick a wire in and ground it, if you hear the alt pull down then its the VR. That’s my guess too. We got 60 miles from home on our trip and my alternator shot craps. Luckily O’Riellys auto parts was open. I walked in and told them I was confident my voltage reg was out. They tested for free and said it was. Bought a new one and they let me borrow some tools and 10 minutes later we where on the road. First time I was in one of their stores. Great people
Everything the left touches it destroys
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6489611
03/13/19 11:13 AM
03/13/19 11:13 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,306 Maine
Jonnytrapper
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Maine
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You shouldn't unhook the battery in a modern car. It's capacitance is used like a filter for the voltage coming off the alternator for the sensitive electronics in modern vehicles. The voltage regulator can be internal, external (mostly older cars) or in the vehicles computer.
Belt, battery connections, alternator connections, voltage regulator, alternator. Should have around 14v at the battery with the car running and lights on. If your alternator ends up being bad make sure your battery is good. Weak battery can tax an alternator and cause it to fail.
Last edited by Jonnytrapper; 03/13/19 12:06 PM.
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6489721
03/13/19 01:18 PM
03/13/19 01:18 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,404 MT
snowy
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trapper
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Posts: 10,404
MT
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Start it then disconnect the hot lead from your battery. If the engines dies it is the alternator.
Give me a fish, I will eat for a day. Teach me to fish, I will eat for a lifetime
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6489936
03/13/19 05:55 PM
03/13/19 05:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,688 Illinois
foxkidd44
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OP
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Posts: 4,688
Illinois
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thanks for the tips guys.......I didn't know they had a portable tester............i'm still old school.......take it off...put it on a machine to test.........lol.
went to o'reillys and they put a tester on it.............alternator is fine...........passed the test...........belt was slipping.......I dismissed the belt at first because I replaced it 2 years ago.....................but with closer examination.......that seems to be the culprit
Stand by your principles, Stand by your guns, and victory complete and permanent is sure at last. Abraham Lincoln
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Re: is it my alternator???
[Re: foxkidd44]
#6490287
03/13/19 10:55 PM
03/13/19 10:55 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,894 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,894
williamsburg ks
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their dad probably taught them to be honest. may have barked a bit cause they didn't check the belt and the hot wire first
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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