Driving on HIGHWAY.. TRUCK SHUT OFF!

What's up Tacos,
I was driving to work today and all of a sudden I see my abs, slippery roads condition, maintenance required, and air bag light pop up. Next my radio shuts off... so I start to panic lol NEXT, my speedometer kept on moving up and down and the engine started to choke. Lastly, I moved over to the side of the highway and the truck shut off. I tried starting the truck and nothing. The battery works. Overall got a Uber to work luckily I was an exit away from work but WHAT CAN THIS BE?

 

Radio shutting off by itself sounds like an alternator failure.

 

First thing I'd be looking for would be loose or corroded battery connections and/or an internal battery short. Then whether the battery cables are tight at the other ends. Then ground connections, especially ones that are screwed into the frame, 'cause those are super corrosion-susceptible. If you can find the one the main computer relies on for its ground point, take a real close look at that.

 

Please define.

 

Does it crank normally or do the dash lights and such just work? All newer vehicles, if voltage drops past a certain point, will shut down the computer to protect it from damage.

 

Yea, just because the battery seems okay, doesn’t meant there’s not a bad cell or isn’t sulfated. Wouldn’t be a bad idea to have it tested if there is a charging system problem.

 

Thanks everyone. Its luckily just the alternator. The lights would be on but the truck would not turn on.

 

it is -_- thanks man

 

Thanks man

 

Cranks normally and dash lights work.

 

very true

 

Glad you found the root cause and glad we could help. I'd still get your battery checked. When the alternator went, the truck ran off the battery until it didn't have enough voltage to run critical circuits. Then the truck shut off. Dragging an old battery down that much may have damaged it.

 

hmm good to know. I got it towed home by my uncle and its at his shop. So far its the alternator.

 

Next post.

“I bought an alternator from Autozone and the battery light on the dash is on. My voltmeter shows 14V.”

Hint: Don’t buy an alternator from Autozone. Or Oreilly. Or knecht’s

 

FYI: Denso rebuilt from Carid $117 or Rockauto $123 comes in 2-3 days - same as the dealer rebuilt but not $400-700.

 

Yeah, don't cheap out on the alternator. It's important!

 

Well, I sure was wrong on THIS one...

 

I don't know if any of you guys have ever tried it, but you can "make new" an old battery by dumping out the acid, flushing it out real good, and then filling it up with a water/Epsom salt mixture and trickle charging it for like 24hrs. I've done it before, it seems to work. I tried it on a bud's kid's Camry and as far as I know, its still working. And that thing was completely dead and wouldn't take a charge. I also did it on my riding mower last spring and it worked all summer. There's videos on YouTube about it... its a $3 battery rebuild if you're "not cheap" but "frugal" as I like to say. Plus its fun. Wear eye protection!!!!!

 

And capture all of the waste for proper disposal!