Well i have the scan guage II, and i realized that my battery volts is usually about high 13's or low 14's, and well now it's at 11. Is it because the battery is shot and won't hold the charge, or could it be the alternator, and if it's the alternator, how hard is it to change?

 

If its showing 11 volts with the car running the alternator is shot and isn’t charging the battery properly. Using a DVOM or voltmeter (red lead POSITIVE black lead NEGATIVE)you could test the battery to see what the voltage is with the car off. Then turn the car on and do the same test to see what the voltage is reading. That is what your alternator is putting out. Or you could remove the rubber protector on alternator post and put the positive DVOM lead on that and the black DVOM lead on a ground and see alternator output that way. If below 13.5 -14 you need to replace the alternator. Its easy to replace if you need to.

 

well i'm not to mechanicaly inclined, i mean i changed my shocks, ball joints tie rod ends, so i know some stuff, so you think i'll be alright to change it myself?

 

well i went to napa and they checked my battery and said it was shot, so i had to buy a new one since there wasn't enought juice to even start my truck. Well the date on the battery said july 2005, so it's only 3 years old, but what are you gonna do. i just hope this solves my problem

 

I would still check the output of the alternator because it may be the reason that your battery had to be replaced.

 

haha, yea i just noticed it, because i put in the new battery, and well my guage was still going down. So tomorrow i'm going to take it out and have them test it, and then if i need to buy a new one. Any tips on chainging it?

 

If your truck has a seperate voltage regulator ( not built into the alternator ) you may want to replace it before replacing the alternator. It will be cheaper.

Also, watch for a badly worn or loose belt. A loose belt will sometimes act like a bad regulator or alternator by slipping when under heavy load. If you can turn the alternator pulley by hand without the belt moving it is too loose.

 

I'll check it before i take it off, thanks for all the input guys!!! i'll be sure to let you know what i figure out.

 

Well i brought my alternator to advanced auto parts, and they tested it, and said it was on it's last leg, as he was testing i was watching the metter go from like 9v back to 11 then right back to 9v, so it wasn't a solid constant rate of charge. So i bought a rebuilt with a life time warrenty, and had him test it just to make sure, and it was solid on the 14-15v mark. So i guess i figured out my problem.

Thanks for all your help

 

If the alt. is bad,will that cause the battery light to flicker. I just replaced the battery on sunday. Thanks

 

Yes, that is what the warning light is for (not the battery itself).

It is a charging circuit indicator.

Steve

 

Thanks thats what I was afraid of.

 

now see, my battery light never came on or flickered or anything.

 

Replaced my alt. on sat. about a hour to change. The truck is running back to its normal stuff.