Awesome96XLT
Member
- Joined
- April 4, 2010
- Messages
- 33
- Reaction score
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- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 96 xlt
Hey guys, so I need some advice diagnosing this problem.
There is a lot of writing so I am just going to bold the key points.
About a week ago, I started to notice that my battery was reading at 11.5 volts consistently. I ignored it, as the truck was running fine. Yesterday, the truck died as I was idling on the street. The lights dimmed, some beeping started to occur, the battery light came on, and the car died as I was idling on drive. I got it jumped, then 5 minutes later, it died as I was preparing to turn right at a stop sign. The time between the first and second jump, my battery was reading 9 or 10 volts.
3 more things:
1. I helped a guy jump his car two weeks ago and it took FOREVER to get his car to take a charge, so my cables were hooked up to his for a good 15 or 20 minutes...could this have drained my battery beyond its ability for the alternator to recharge it?
2. When I got my oil change a month ago, the mechanic told me that I have serpentine belt tensioner issues that is causing intermitant check engine lights, but I just jumped the car and checked the serpentine belt, and the belt is running fine and smoothly...
3. I thought I had the problem nailed as an alternator problem, but I just hooked up my multimeter to my car and jumped it. It would idle around 11.5 volts but when I revved the engine past 4500 rpm, it would jump up to 13v, then as I let off the gas, it would go back down to 11.5.
So....I am not sure if it is an alternator problem, as I originally thoughts, because of the higher voltage upon revving.....but at the same time, I am not sure if it is just a battery problem either?
Please help and thanks alot in advance!
There is a lot of writing so I am just going to bold the key points.
About a week ago, I started to notice that my battery was reading at 11.5 volts consistently. I ignored it, as the truck was running fine. Yesterday, the truck died as I was idling on the street. The lights dimmed, some beeping started to occur, the battery light came on, and the car died as I was idling on drive. I got it jumped, then 5 minutes later, it died as I was preparing to turn right at a stop sign. The time between the first and second jump, my battery was reading 9 or 10 volts.
3 more things:
1. I helped a guy jump his car two weeks ago and it took FOREVER to get his car to take a charge, so my cables were hooked up to his for a good 15 or 20 minutes...could this have drained my battery beyond its ability for the alternator to recharge it?
2. When I got my oil change a month ago, the mechanic told me that I have serpentine belt tensioner issues that is causing intermitant check engine lights, but I just jumped the car and checked the serpentine belt, and the belt is running fine and smoothly...
3. I thought I had the problem nailed as an alternator problem, but I just hooked up my multimeter to my car and jumped it. It would idle around 11.5 volts but when I revved the engine past 4500 rpm, it would jump up to 13v, then as I let off the gas, it would go back down to 11.5.
So....I am not sure if it is an alternator problem, as I originally thoughts, because of the higher voltage upon revving.....but at the same time, I am not sure if it is just a battery problem either?
Please help and thanks alot in advance!