Electrical was acting funny...

[Darrman]

I left work awhile ago, before I did I wanted to check the lights, make sure all were working, had to change a rear turnsignal recently. Anyways I turn on the lights everythings a-ok, go to start it and while it starts without any problem, I heard some kind of crunch/click noise, and I noticed the headlights dimmed down to half of the norm, including the brights. Motor was running fine, drove to where you pullout into the street, still dim, then when I gave it a bit of gas, all of a sudden the headlights are back to norm.
Now the whole time the amp gauge on the dash was reading way low, barely past the 8, usually sits close to the 18, I have a brand new 600 cold amp battery, and only a radio and a 600 watt amp added to the stock system.
This is a first, and I am wondering if something is up with the altenator, I have no record of it ever being replaced, it could be the original. The battery wires are alittle dried up, I am planning to replace them one of these days.
Any ideas of what the problem could be? Thx.

 

[Bigjoe2185]

I would pull the alternator and take it to autozone or murrays and have it checked. Usually battery cables wont just go out on you like that.

 

[Darrman]

I took it by orielly's yesterday, its the altenator all right, its putting out 12v's, so along with a new brake booster, I guess I am putting in a new altenator monday, there goes my christmas bonus :thumbdwn:

 

[PTBishop]

with the engine running it should be putting out 14 volts. and i don't know why everyone pulls the starter or the alternator to have them tested, there is no way to tell. leave it in the truck and pay the half hour labor to have someone at a shop who knows a thing or two more about a car than the people at autozone. they don't know as much as you think