electrical woes...

[Goober]

I have battled this problem as long as I have owned this truck. I have replaced the battery and alt numerous times, changed both battery cables and cleaned the bejesus(actual word??) out of my electrical system. I cannot for the life of me figue out why my 'disco' lights won't go away. That pulsing of the lights and constant movement of the gauge drives me absolutely bananas. Any suggestions as to what else it might be? Thanks!

 

[aldive]

The symptoms you mention "could" be related to a ground problem.

 

[MONMIX]

bejesus : adj 1) a lot 2.) very extreem 3) derivitive of jesus ,

 

[JDraper]

As aldive said, I'd start looking for loose ground wires. Check the ground wire from the engine to the frame the engine to the body, and the frame to the body. I had a Monte Carlo that was exhibiting all sorts of bizarre electrical problems, including flickering lights, and it turned out to be a broken grounding strap from the motor to the body.

 

[Crankcase]

Have you tried holding a volt meter over the battery terminals while it is running, to see what the voltage is spiking too?

 

[Goober]

I did check the battery voltage with the alt running. It was ~ 13.50. I checked the alt and it was dancing all over the place. I took the alt and battery back to be tested. The battery tested good, alt bad, but they went ahead and defected both out (the battery was spewing water out the top).
After a NASCAR-style pitstop (I get to do it so much, I'm pretty quick now ) I cranked her back up. Alt and battery both read the same and stable....fingers crossed.

My question is.. What is it that is killing these two things? I have checked, or installed new, just about every wire I know to check. Grounds seem to be well connected and in good shape. I had the factory alt in for 130,000 miles and all was fine until it died. Now with these rebuilt alt, I replace them about every 6 months.

Anyone have a similiar problem and go have a good heavy-duty one built and eliminate these problems??