Ok, I was on my way to class today and half way there my stereo quit making sound (the face plate was still lit up) and my battery light came on and the needle shot all the way to the top. it took me maybe thirty seconds to get to a parking lot were i could pull off and check it out. By the time i got there, everything was back to normal. Since I was running late i only popped the hood and made sure i didn't have anything obvious rubbing and went on to class. when I got home i noticed both my fog lights and low beams (which were on at the time) had been burnt out. As far as I can find this is the only lasting issue.

So what am i looking at as a possible problem here? Is it a bad alternator? Is my battery shot? or is there some kind of short that haven't found yet causing the issue?

oh yea 97 4.6 4x4 ex cab

Thanks for any input and ill be taking it to autozone to get the battery tested.

 

The tell tale sign is the headlamps blown.
The alternator regulator stopped control of the alternator output.
The voltage is going very high at near 18 volts.
You don't want to continue to run the truck until this is taken care of because you put to much at risk with the high voltage.
Running with this condition cooks the battery if it is not already damaged and blows other lamps and items.
How big is the stereo in terms of power?
If large it may have done in the old alternator.
Good luck.

 

so time for a new alternator then? The stereo HU is a pioneer just a standard 80 buck walmart special. I have a 200 watt amp running a twelve inch sub with a fuse right next to the power source. It is nothing extreme from what i have seen people put in these trucks.

I am fairly certain the alternator is original though with 201k on it and its roughly 15 years old.

Thanks for the reply

 

you got your money outa that alternator.... mine made it to 154k at 15 years old last fall.

 

Remove neg battery connection.
Remove intake hose on throttle body and move hose aside.
Remove 2 bolts holding the throttle cable assembly.
Use 1/2" long handle torque bar on belt tensioner to remove belt over alternator.
Disconnect 3 power connections on back of alternator. One nut and two plugs.
Lossen 3 bolts on rear bracket
Remove the front one to the alternator.
Remove 2 mounting bolts on the bottom of alternator.
When getting the replacement be sure the pully is the same or change to the original pully.
130 amp alternator should bolt in with no problems.
Good luck.

 

Thanks for the replies. i decided to suck it up and go ahead and buy a reman with a lifetime warranty. They wanted 70 bucks just for the regulator, and since the alternator had to come out any way i figured with as old as it was, why not replace it and be done with it. got the old one out just fine, and the new one will go in tomorrow after class.

incidentally does anyone know of a good source for cheep silvania silver stars, you know the good ones? I spent 80 bucks for the fogs and heads that were in it three years ago and i have replacements to put in, but i would like to get back to the good ones if i can do it a little cheaper.