Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) ?+#$@%# Gen light on help....

[Bhale]

Gen light on help....

The GEN light just came on. The belt is still on and the battery terminals are tight and clean. Time for a new generator?



Thanks

Brian

 

[Joe G.]

I think you need to read the forum guide lines regarding disguised swearing.

 

[Bill Weber]

Check the alternator voltage. They either work or they don't. Make sure your manifold heaters are not stuck on - gently grab (one at a time) the wires going to the manifold heater with the engine running. If they are hot, disconnect them.

 

[VGiacalone]

Same exact thing happened to me on New Year's Eve. Had to get a new alternator - luckily my mechanic could get me in and out in one day. He said 175,000 miles on one alternator was pretty darn good.



Valarie

 

[Bhale]

I just now finished replacing mine, $110 +$60 core charge. Only took ~3 hours and the hardest part was getting the pulley off the old unit.



Valarie, mines got 174,860 miles on it, maybe this is a scheduled maint item??



FWIW, i used a propane torch to heat the nut that holds the pulley on the old alternator, put a 7/8" socket over the big nut and gripped it with 2 pairs of vise grips. thru the center of the socket i had a socket and extension on the smaller stud the big nut threads onto. It was pain to break it loose but i got it.



The truck is happy again... .



Brian

 

[PUMPERDUDE]

They either work or they don't

Not true. Mine was working ,but only at arround 60%. I was getting an intermittent check engine lite for a couple weeks. Autozone tested it,condemned it, and changed the pulley for free ... Problem gone

 

[bmoeller]

Check your 120 amp fuse under the hood in the PDC. BTW, the voltage is controlled by the PCM. Not an internal regulator.

 

[Jschafer]

My alt went out around 180,000 Auto Zone was the only place with one in stock, that was 125,000 ago Still going!

 

[vssman]

Have you been anywhere near the PCM? Check those connections as well (Pass side fire wall).



Edit: Does the tach work?