Alternator or battery or both?

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Check the outside to see if they taped the receipt to it. I'm guessing they didn't punch the numbers on top. That drives me nuts.

Thats a good one for the gripe thread. Should have a sticker on it with the date or numbers punched out. Always keep those receipts!

 

[BigE]

Those symptoms usually means a bad alternator. The battery being completely drained will cause that engine shut down when the jump pack was removed on a modern vehicle. Take the battery out and charge it to full after you replace the alternator.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Battery cables caused me a hell of a lot of consternation on my '94 F250. It would start right up and once I drove it around for a while and the truck got warm it wouldn't start and gauges would start acting up. It would crank until the battery was dead, but wouldn't start.

After trip to the mechanic where he threw a new alternator on (didn't fix it), and I put on a new starter, coil, and battery, I finally found a guy on a 460 forum that said to check the ground connection to the engine block. I got under there and looked, and when I touched it the wire fell off the mount. It was completely corroded. The poor connection was causing it to draw too many amps once the truck got hot.

A few dollars for a new ground wire and 15 minutes to install and voila, my truck starts and gauges have been perfect ever since.

This was by far one of the most frustrating vehcile issues I've ever had...

 

[Maverick1]

He already replaced the alternator. Suggestions that it is the alternator are kind of useless at this point.

For $100-$200, (or whatever it costs nowadays), put in a new battery.

 

[doc holiday13]

Pull the battery and alternator. Have both tested. Always inspected cables for corrosion and clean connectors. Outside that you might need to have a non shade tree mechanic look it over

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Those symptoms usually means a bad alternator. The battery being completely drained will cause that engine shut down when the jump pack was removed on a modern vehicle. Take the battery out and charge it to full after you replace the alternator.

Not necessarily (sorry had to read again), just dealt with this on a 2003 Impala that had set for too long. It would run for about a minute or so after the pack was removed and then die. Fortunately battery was a Walmart premium with 2 year full replacement warranty. Stopped by and they swapped it out and I walked out of there with a new one no questions asked.

No issues starting since I replaced the battery.

 

[Geewhiz]

Those symptoms usually means a bad alternator. The battery being completely drained will cause that engine shut down when the jump pack was removed on a modern vehicle. Take the battery out and charge it to full after you replace the alternator.

Did that and let it run for a bit and it died after about 30 minutes or so.

 

[Poser]

Not much to add to the diagnosis except to inspect the battery cables themselves.

Pro tip: always keep a battery tester and/or multi meter in your vehicle.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Did that and let it run for a bit and it died after about 30 minutes or so.

new battery would be my number one priority, and I would also check your cables from battery to starter and battery to block. If any nicks or bad spots in insulation or loose connections replace them.

 

[Laelkhunter]

Those symptoms usually means a bad alternator. The battery being completely drained will cause that engine shut down when the jump pack was removed on a modern vehicle. Take the battery out and charge it to full after you replace the alternator.

In the first post, he said it stopped running 30 minutes after installing a new alternator and freshly charged battery.

 

[Fatcamp]

Battery cables caused me a hell of a lot of consternation on my '94 F250. It would start right up and once I drove it around for a while and the truck got warm it wouldn't start and gauges would start acting up. It would crank until the battery was dead, but wouldn't start.

After trip to the mechanic where he threw a new alternator on (didn't fix it), and I put on a new starter, coil, and battery, I finally found a guy on a 460 forum that said to check the ground connection to the engine block. I got under there and looked, and when I touched it the wire fell off the mount. It was completely corroded. The poor connection was causing it to draw too many amps once the truck got hot.

A few dollars for a new ground wire and 15 minutes to install and voila, my truck starts and gauges have been perfect ever since.

This was by far one of the most frustrating vehcile issues I've ever had...

Many years ago I went through a similar situation. Simple but maddening.

 

[Blacktail247]

Assuming the new alternator is charging, I would suspect the battery. I would
Leave it on a slow charge over night and load test it after it’s given a chance to fully
Charge. I don’t have much confidence in the local parts houses anymore.

 

[180ls1]

Battery should have a date on it, if its more than 2 years old I'd replace it regardless.

 

[tt_johnsclist]

I’m betting a new battery is your solution.

 

[BigE]

Did that and let it run for a bit and it died after about 30 minutes or so.

New battery next and check your battery terminals are clean and solid, then check ground points as mentioned. You are getting there.

 

[TSimons9]

Others mentioned this already but I will second checking battery cables, charge the battery fully and then load test. A battery can show 12.5+ volts sitting and be basically useless when a load is applied. Alternator cannot function properly if the battery is not holding a charge under load. Being a 2010 I believe the voltage regulator is built into the alternator so it should be new when alt was replaced.

Sounds like a junk battery to me, but bad battery cables and/or bad grounds can cause all sorts of electrical demons.

 

[Axlrod]

Lots of good advice here, the only thing I don't see, is to check your alternator belt. The alternator takes 4 horsepower per 100 amps. So if the belt is loose or old, it will slip, and not turn the alternator as fast as it needs to.

 

[KsRancher]

Make sure the alternator is putting out, clean battery cables. The alternator should run the vehicle even if the battery is no good. Just because the alternator is new doesn't mean its putting out. The PCM controls the output of the alternator.

^^ had this happen on my son's Jeep. Replaced battery and alternator. Same issue. Would run a little bit and die. Ended up with a new PCM or ECM, I cant remember which

 

[go_deep]

Any luck? Impatiently waiting for an update....

 

[Geewhiz]

Any luck? Impatiently waiting for an update....

At work till 2030. Will be on it first thing in the morning after my range session. Going to check my grounds and wires and then go pick up a new battery and go from there.