My '99 Bolt was going down the road with a year old battery and the radio stoped playing, the lights went out and a few minutes later the truck stoped running. I towed it home and charged the battery and the truck started fine
but only runs for a few minutes then the battery is dead again. No lights on in the dash when running. So it could be a bad new battery/connections/or alternator. Please advise how to check it out (safely) and if I need to replace the alternator ultimately, what steps need to be taken..is it something a
non-mechanic can do ? any special tools etc. ? I'm a bit low on cash right now and I'd like to do it myself if I'm pretty sure its the alternator not a fuse or something simple. Please advise if you can. 13.20 with an old Superchip only.
(Chip is out right now, so thats not the issue)

Thanks

 

If you can drive down to your local chain auto parts store, they can usually wheel a battery/alternator tester out to your truck and check it on th espot.

Takes the guesswork out of it...

Otherwise, pick up one of those voltmeters that plug into your cigarette lighter or power port. Around $15 at WalMart. They will give you a simple reading of the system voltage which will help show whether the alternator is working or not.

Also, does your alternator light come on like it's supposed to when the ignition key is first turned on? Perhaps the bulb is burned out so you're not getting a possible warning of a charging system fault.

Steve