Recharging system issue

Just to confirm, what is your battery resting voltage? Meaning, truck has been off and sitting for a few hours, what does the voltage read at the terminals, with no electronics on?

 

You can try to wiggle the plug and harness while testing it. See if the readings go wacko.

 

Battery resting voltage just checked is 12.39 (alt is not hooked up) but I'm positive thats not a full charge if that makes a difference. Wiggle the plug and harness? The battery terminals bracket/platform it rests on? Everything is locked down TIGHT so I doubt it. Raining again, I'll wait for a break in the rain and then go see if I can make numbers jump around.

 

That's not totally dead, but again, if you are not getting 13.5-14.5 volts while the engine is running, then something is wrong with your alternator. If they bench tested it and only checked the output via the ring terminal, but they didn't check the plug to the rear of the alternator (the voltage regulator), then you could have an issue with that.

I would agree that you should have your multimeter hooked to the battery, and take the reading with the engine running. If you wiggle the plug and you are getting readings of 12v at one moment, wiggle, and then all of the sudden you are getting 14 volts, then something is up with the connection, either on the alt itself or the plug, or something else is faulty internally within the alt.

 

Just fyi.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Alternator...e=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2648

 

The voltage readings of the wires are correct with the key ON, so you don't have a problem with those 3 wires.

You can use a battery from any car, any size. You just need it to sit there while it's idling and check the voltage, but it's pointing toward the alternator being bad in spite of any previous test results.

 

Was The Alternator that started this adventure tested and found to be bad

What bothers me is the fact it dies in a mile after being jumped

A fully Charged battery should go much further unless the Sound System is blasting Lights are on The blower motor is on high

A bad main Ground if the jumper battery is connected to both terminals It most likely won`t crank

 

Where's OP at? TW may have some folks near you.

Kudos for trying to figure this out too! Good on you.

 

When a friend gets here in a few hours I'll see if I can wiggle things around with the engine cranked and the multi-meter hooked up. I also have a potential lead on a battery that I can use for free for a week or so! Thanks for the link to the 3 pin cable.

As for dying in a mile, not exactly so. I just chose an arbitrary number.

East coast, NC.

 

A time or mileage closer to what really happens would be a great help

 

Time: Owner for 3 years? Truck used to be a fleet vehicle I bought it used from a dealership with 98K miles.
Mileage: 123.6K

Ok folks time for an update.

Hooked up the multi-meter, had a friend crank and started wiggling cords and connectors. 5 seconds later the alternator belt split in half.

Yesterday I didnt have time to fool with it but today I'm switching this belt out to begin the process anew. Prior to the belt splitting the belt looked fine and the tension was correct so I dont *think* the problem lies there.

Here is the real reason for the update; While switching out the belts I noticed one of the pulleys/rotors has a LOT of play. Free floating where I could move it and spin it around with a minor pressure (if I shove it back toward the vehicle and engine I cannot turn it but as soon as I pull it forward it free floats. This is the last pulley on the 3 pulley system (crankshaft?) and the same pulley which hooks up with the belt going to the alternator. I've attached two pictures (taken from below) to show some of the play (center line of the photo) in the pulley and identify the part in question. Touching the specific pulley.

The other two pulleys are completely ridged with no play at all. Is this normal/supposed to move (could not find on google or youtube)? If its not supposed to move and free floating I could speculate if the (crank shaft?) spins and the pulley slips> belt would not turn as fast or consistently> alternator not turning as fast or consistently> diminished flow of power and recharge AND may appear intermittent.

Photos below pointing to the pulley in question along with some of the play. Thoughts?

 

Oh, and if this is NOT normal and needs to be replaced I could certainly benefit from someone identifying the part name so when I goto buy it and research how to swap it out I can actually find what I'm looking for!

 

I think that's the fan pulley? And yes it shouldn't have that much play

 

Does the fan bolt to those pulleys? If not then its the ctankshaft pulleys? Thats not good.

 

Found this on YT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrLchFba1hU

 

How much did you tighten belts? They should have 0.5-1" of up and down play

 

Nope, fan is separate on this engine. I think its a difference in engine size (liters) based on a few youtube videos of how-to "X".

This is my thinking, if I cannot spin the pulley freely then I'm sometimes getting a charge (pulley sitting back). Then over time if the pulley drifts forwards I get more slipping and less recharge but its a hit and miss of the day causing unknown and intermittent issues. This could also explain why a perfectly good belt with no signs of excessive wear may split in half. If the pulley slides forward and the belt is holding it back this could cause faster wear ending up in a split.

I don't know much about vehicle repair other than the few things I've done but I'm thinking this may be the cause of my issues... Short bit of googling I think is an 'alternator pulley' as I have 3 belts and none attached to the fan. Should get me in the right direction at the auto store. Now how much and who has a fence I can paint for some $$?

Other thoughts on this?

 

Something like a half inch for play on the belt Edit ~ Although I should admit it I may have tightened the belt up a half turn more on the bolt when I swapped the alternator.


Edit~ To anyone else that comes along- the video linked above is the same pulley and issue I'm talking about just not quite as bad.

 

Oh it's the back one that is loose. That's the harmonic balancer for the engine.

 

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=8625092&cc=1388987&jsn=425&jsn=425