2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Gen light on but plenty of juice from alt.

[SteveMiller]

OK so here's the story...



I was on my way back from PA and stopped in Iowa for the night. When I came out in the morning my truck wouldn't start. Seems the batteries were dead. So I got a jump and the truck started up and away I went.



However, the Gen light was now on. The volt meter was reading above 14 but not quite halfway to the next mark (normal or maybe a touch high). I ran the radio, AC, cruise and it never dropped below 14 on the guage. But at the same time since I was traveling and needed to get home I didn't turn the truck off the whole way. The volts didnt' change, but the light would go off from time to time (no pattern that I could tell) but it was on most of the time. When I got home i shut off the truck. Of course I tried to start it again and it was even more dead than the morning.



I'm guessing my batteries have just given up and aren't holding a charge but I wanted to see what other people thought and even if that is the case if I should be worried about the alternator as well. I was concerned with the alt. over changing the batteries and killing them. Seems weird they would both be gonzo'd at the same time and just over night. I didn't own the truck when they were put in but according to the sticker they are only 2yrs old.



The truck is a 97 1-ton with 195k on it. It has a pretty good oil leak, I did just change the oil filter but don't believe I shorted anything out. I haven't had a chance to look at the fuse but will when I get home but it seems like the alternator was keeping the truck going so I don't think the fuse is blown.





Also, since it looks like a good possibility that I'll be buying batteries in the near future what does anyone suggest for brands and what amps are they supposed to be?





Thanks

Steve

 

[LHastings]

Check the volltage across your batteries when it is running to verify that your alt is charging, if not check the fuse. I replced my batteries with Optima Red Tops , cranks great and there isn't any corrosion to worry about.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Remove and clean the battery terminals, sounds like a bad connection. bg

 

[Forrest Nearing]

when mine did that I cleaned all the terminals and made a new ought gauge cable between the two batteries (it was very corroded)



no problems since



Forrest

 

[SteveMiller]

Thanks, I checked and one of my battery terminals has a crack in it and it has caused it to become loose. I'm hoping that's the problem. I'll replace it today after work. My only thought is, its the ground cable on one of the batteries. If that cable was completely missing wouldn't the truck still run off the other battery? Its still got the power cables going to it and its grounded properly. Just a thought, but even if its bad for the battery I figured the truck would run off of one.



Steve

 

[SteveMiller]

Well thanks again to TDR!



Sure enough it was just bad connections. I thought I only had one connection but it turns out there were 2 bad connections. One on each battery that was causing the problem. The terminal was nice and tight but the between the post and connector was lots of corrosion. This saved me from having to buy new batteries.



I put new connectors on the wires and the truck fired right up with no lack of juice at all.



Thanks again.

Steve

 

[Rman]

another one! Good on ya for trying the easy route first. Keep those terminals clean, I clean mine twice a year, usually before the winter months because I don't want to get stranded anywhere. Clean terminals are crucial, for those of us without gel cell's!