Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Electrical problems on my truck

[TWilkening]

For about the last two weeks, I've had to jump my turck if it's been sitting. It's gotten worse. I had to jump it to move it this morning so I figured I'd drive it to work since I had it running. I figured it would be alright since it would only be about 12 hours, not for days. Needless to say, I needed to jump start it then. I drove it to some relatives' home for dinner, and when I went to leave a couple hours later it went dead. Before it just wouldn't crank. This time it was completely dead, no lights, nothing. So I get my uncle to give me a jump, and off I go. Driving down the road and my check gauges light comes on. I noticed my amp gauge is pegged full right. So I shut the truck off and try to restart it real quick. Lose all lights and everything. Did I mention there was a semi behind me:-laf Luckily I was rolling through a town, so I pulled of onto a side street. My uncle comes to jump me again, we get it going, and it acts fine coming home. I pulled it in the garage shut it off,and restarted it. This time it started fine. I was thinking possibly a regulater in the alternator, with the gauge pegging, but wanted an opinion from someone more intellegent than I. Also, the volt gauge has read normal the entire time, except the one time it pegged.

 

[JApol]

I get your alternator is toast and your batteries have died keeping the truck running. How long were the jumper cables attaches the last time you jumped it? It might have charged them enough for it to start.

 

[MarkMiller]

I'd say dead alternator. May have also cooked the batteries in hte process. Deep cycle batteries deal with those loads better though.

 

[WestTN]

A dirty cable connection or a defective cable can also leave you with just one battery trying to do all the work.

 

[MarkMiller]

Dirty terminals and tight connections should absolutely be the first thing checked as West said. But a tip with dual battery systems, replace them in pairs. If not you will replace them morefrequently because the load will be shouldered mainly by one battery and that will hasten it's demise. I run Optima blue tops in my truck and red tops in my jeep. Haven't ever had a problem.