trimster Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 So, lately I have been noticing the dash volt meter running low (10-12v), slow to react to high loads, upping the voltage indicating a high charge rate. Tonight it would idle at 10v with headlights on. Turn off all lights and bring the RPMs up to 1500, the voltage would slowly rise. I put a smart charger on at the batteries, and it indicated they were at 43% @ 11.4v . I'm kinda thinking the alternator is going south. Seems if I had a bad battery (in the pair), I would think the alternator would be kicking out 13-14v to try and charge 'em. 130k miles on the truck. Thoughts welcome. Bob Quote Robert & Lisa '14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er 2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours) 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9' 2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours) We are both USAF vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 Possibly a poor connection at the alternator studs. As always, check your ground connections too. Quote I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimster Posted May 12, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 So, cleaned the connections at the alternator. Now charging seems normal. 12.3v @ idle. 13.3v @ 1100 rpms and above. I did have the batteries on charge all night so they were @ 95% when I started the truck. Is the voltage regulator inside the alternator? Or is it external? If external, where is it? Quote Robert & Lisa '14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er 2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours) 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9' 2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours) We are both USAF vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darryl&Rita Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 Regulator is likely internal, as most modern vehicles have that arrangement. Full model number of the alternator will tell. Quote I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication 2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet 2007 32.5' Fleetwood QuantumPlease e-mail us here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lockmup68 Posted May 12, 2020 Report Share Posted May 12, 2020 also, make sure the terminals on all the batteries are clean, grounds are solid. Quote 2003 International Eagle 9200i, Cummins ISX, Freedomline 2007 Teton Scottsdale XT4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimster Posted July 2, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2020 The alternator died in Chama, NM. Charged the batteries and headed to Farmington NM for a new one. Took 3 days and 3 wrong part orders to get the right one. Easy install once I got the right unit. Charging great now. Bob Quote Robert & Lisa '14 Keystone Fuzion 315 38' 5er 2015 Volvo VNL 670, D13, iShift 'The Tartis' (ours) 2013 Smart Fortwo Passion 'K-9' 2011 CanAm Spyder RT Limited (Ours) We are both USAF vets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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