truck keeps dying

[audiodude332001]

Ok, for about the last 3 days my battery gauge has been on about 1/4, then yesterday while I was driving, my truck died. It just started sputtering and my radar detector and stereo were both flashing on and off, so I shut them both off and then about 2 minutes later the engine just died and I couldn't get it to start again. So I took the battery in to a shop and they tested it and said it was dead, and It would not even take a charge. So I replaced it,and I also replaced the cable terminals on the battery, and the same thing happened later that night. So I had a machine hooked up to the battery that measures voltage and stuff, and I found out that the battery is not getting any power from the alternator. So I picked up a used alternator with 40k on it and put it in. The truck did the same damn thing to me tonight; just started sputtering and then died and I was unable to start it again. I dont really have any more ideas as to what the problem is. The only thing that I can think of would be the wire between the battery and the alternator. That wire is the only one that would not allow the battery to get any power from the alternator isn't it? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[MrShorty]

Is that used alternator you installed putting out juice?

 

[expo5.0]

are your battery cables rotten?

 

[Opera House]

Does the battery light come on when you first turn the key? Believe it or not the alternator is turned on by this light. No light possibly indicates a break in the line. There is also a 15A alternator regulator fuse that is know to get corrosion on it and cause the alternator to not work.

 

[phoenixlt]

important

definately check your fuses

 

[Blee1099]

Check your cables.. Check to see if they have too much resistance or are possibly corrodied. Your cables may look okay just by appearance but chances are since you have a 1st generation, I find it highly unlikely. If you alternator wasn't charging the battery, you have a good chance that your battery drained pretty badly.. I suggest putting the battery on a charger also.

 

[audiodude332001]

MrShorty
Is that used alternator you installed putting out juice?

The guy that I got the alternator from guaranteed me that the alternator worked perfect.

expo5.0
are your battery cables rotten?

Im not sure. So, I got new cables tonight, along with some new gold plated cable terminals for on top of the battery and I will be replacing them tommorow morning.

Opera House
There is also a 15A alternator regulator fuse that is know to get corrosion on it and cause the alternator to not work.

Really...Is the fuse for this under the hood? or is it under the dash?

Blee1099
If you alternator wasn't charging the battery, you have a good chance that your battery drained pretty badly.. I suggest putting the battery on a charger also.

I would stick it on the charger, but im pretty sure that my charger doesnt work anymore because it didn't charge my battery at all last night or the night before, and for like the last 5 times that I'v used it.

Thanks,
Andy

 

[audiodude332001]

Well, I replaced the cables in between the battery and the starter, the wires in between the alternator and the starter solenoid, and the terminals on the battery. But, the truck does the same damn thing :fire: . Im soo pist off. I had it out today and it died on me while driving again, so I finally said screw it and had it towed to the shop, so they will deal with it tommorow.

 

[first explorer]

I would bet that its the used alternator, if one diode is bad it will put out enough juice to run truck, but once you turn headlights on etc. it will slowly drain battery till (quit running)

 

[audiodude332001]

Ya, I noticed that it runs fine while driving or sitting there, but if you use any electrical accessory it severely drops the battery level. I left it running today when I ran into the store, and when I came back out my friend was like "it sounds fine", and i was like "did you hear the rpm's drop when I hit the unlock button" and he was like "no", so I hit the unlock button again and the damn engine died.lolol

 

[Opera House]

Dr. Phil would say, "Well, is what you're doing now workin for ya?" This is a common problem that people want to buy and change parts instead of doing a little diagnostics. Did you answer my question about the alt light coming on before the engine is started? You can get a decent DVM to measure voltage for as little as $2.99. If operating door locks will kill the engine, it has nothing to do with the alternator.

 

[fiftyfeetup]

check the wires on your system, ive seen them cause slow shorts a couple of times. normally if the insulation where your power comes through the firewall doesn't have a fat rubber grommet or enough tape to protect it, the insulation will get thin enough to draw current. If your remote power wire is slung over some bare metal under your dash, its insulation will rub thin too. disconnect your systems power from the battery and pull your radio fuse, charge the battery and see if it continues. two more things, sometimes shops use dielectric grease on cables and terminals. if you clean that off you might be surprised about that alternator. if your alternator is grounded by the brackets you may want to clean the brackets, oil and grease can cause problems there.