Chevy Truck Voltage

plowjockey · #1 12/04/14, 08:19 PM

2001 Silverado 5.3 engine

When the vehicle starts the "battery" light flashes for a while, with about 10v reading in the gauge.

the light will stop flashing and the volts gauge goes about half way between 14-19v. I'm assuming it's the regulator, which is built into the alternator.

Anybody know if sometime repairable (dirty corroded contacts, etc. ) that might be the problems, verses replacement?

These Chevy trucks seem to have common problems, some are inexpensive fixes.

fixitguy · #2 12/04/14, 08:38 PM

Test the battery voltage running with a meter, then have someone turn every light, radio , heater item on, the meter reading should drop fairly quick.

No one rebuilds Alternators anymore, just get a new or re-maned from the parts store.

joseph97297 · #3 12/04/14, 08:46 PM

You can still find a few people that rebuild alternators, but for the price, sometimes it is best to just get a reman one or a solid 'new' one. I had trouble with our 85 E350 and had to get the alt tested, took about 5 minutes in the local store to test it and find it was bad, another 5 minutes to buy the one they had in stock and another 10 minutes to install. All in all, was a lot easier than trying to locate that 'guy' who rebuilds and with a lifetime warranty, no worries.

Harry Chickpea · #4 12/05/14, 11:38 AM

You may want to get your battery tested or just exchanged to be safe. A drop of 2 volts overnight could indicate a bad cell. Trust me, you do NOT want a battery exploding under the hood.

Rustaholic · #5 12/05/14, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harry Chickpea

You may want to get your battery tested or just exchanged to be safe. A drop of 2 volts overnight could indicate a bad cell. Trust me, you do NOT want a battery exploding under the hood.

Sounds like you have been there.
17 years ago my sweet wife called me from a service station and asked me to come get her with a battery that would fit the car. I threw one in the truck and went there and what a mess. She was right next to the drive into that station when the blast rocked the car. She pulled in and shut the car off then opened the hood. I can say it was 17 years ago because our 20 year old daughter was 3 then.

wy_white_wolf · #6 12/05/14, 12:30 PM

Chevys of that era are known for electrical problems with the gauges. Check the voltage with a seperate meter when starting to verify that it is a charging system problem and not a problem with the gauges.

WWW

fixitguy · #7 12/05/14, 01:23 PM

I should add:
In today's modern cars a bad alternator will ruin a battery, and a bad battery will ruin a alternator. Its pretty common to have a replace both at the same time now.

Ozarks Tom · #8 12/06/14, 02:15 PM

2002, but same truck & same motor. The ignition switch wasn't breaking contact completely, draining the battery overnight. New switch. Ouch!

plowjockey · #9 12/06/14, 07:24 PM

The "battery" light stopped flashing, but the gauge still read high. Last night though, lights went dim and it was only putting about 9v.

Replaced the alternator today. gauge still reads a bit high but the output is 14.2v which is about right.

Learned the hard way not to get a larger amp replacement and assume it a direct fit. It looked a bit physically bigger and of course the belt would no longer go back on. Back to the parts store.