Dead Battery or Dead Alternator?

[D-Caf]

Ok, want to get some opinions on this. I was driving to a meeting this evening when I looked down and noticed that my battery light has just come on, and my voltage guauge is reading right about halfway between 9 and 14. Normally my gauge is a solid 14. The battery is less than a year old it's a red-top. The alternator is 7 years old. Do to life, I had to drive this around for a good 30 minutes before I got it back home. The battery meter is now one mark under the halfway mark between 9 and 14. I drove these last 30 minutes with no AC (yes it was hot as @#$%), no radio, dome overide engaged. Half those 30 minutes was with headlights on but dash lights dimmed.

My guess is that my alternator has died, and I'm running on what ever grace my battery is giving me. Anyone else think differently? Thanks.

[XxInFaxX]

my guess is the alternator. if you have a battery charger, charge the batter, start the truck and see if it charges or just drains. if the batter wont hold the charge. its the battery, if it does and just drains, its the alternator. thats what i would try anyways!

[jomama]

its gotta be the alternator. take it to autozone and theyll test it for free. i know the got an autozone in MD.

[LEADFOOT]

Alternator took a ****. Make sure that battery is charged before you put on a new alt. They are a little over $100.

[bvr775]

have the alt checked. don't assume because you have an optima it's not the battery

[D-Caf]

Ok, that sounds like a pretty resounding dead alternator conclusion. (I'll still get the battery checked just to make sure). Thanks for the replies.

So any one have a recommendation on a good upgrade alternator? I don't run any realy heavy stereo equipment, but it would be nice to have the extra room, say 140-180 amps.

So for looking at Jegs, PowerMaster, and Mr. Alternator.

[bvr775]

just have your's rebuilt and beefed up. it'll cost about 60-80bux

[JROD©™®]

be a test subject and get a bosch HO alternator...

when my alt. crapped out on me...I took it to a local service shop and the old timer said he put in a Master Platinum, sounds nice but i've never heard of it. paired up with my red top they have been doing great for 3 years...volts sits at 2 clicks above 14...

[Minitrucker]

I am having alt trouble too. When it is hot out or driving for a bit the volt meter sits one click under 14 and bounces around toward the lower end. Feels like its going to stall some times, get a shakey idle.

[JROD©™®]

maybe yours is whigging out too...mine actually never moves...and i do get stuck in traffic in 90+ degree weather...but i don't have A/C....

[xtc_customs]

you could check into an iraggi alt . his smaller amp alts are below the cost of most of his competitiors .
i did a review on mine in the audio forum .

[Maximus]

If you have a volt meter you can do a quick simple test.With the engine off the battery should have around 12 volts.Engine running test at the battery cables again and you should see around 14 volts give or take a slight bit.that will give ya a clue to were the problem is.

[Supercharged-ZQ8]

That's what my alternator did before it completely crapped out on me. I doubt it's the battery, but (as has been stated before) have it checked anyhow -- but I'm fairly certain it is the alternator.

Try www.4alterstart.com (http://www.4alterstart.com) -- they offer OEM rebuilt alternators (with warranty) as well as upgraded alternators. You may need to swap the pulleys, though -- I did. The pulley was too small on the new one and the ECM kept shutting down the voltage regulator. I swapped the pulleys and it was fine. Their customer service is incredible. I told them about the issue -- they refunded my money (100%) and told me to keep the alternator as well -- it's after that when I switched the pulleys and discovered the error.