digitaltrucker

on older vehicles I always did this: start vehicle, remove negative battery terminal. Does truck die = yes, replace alternator.

techrep

iTrader: (1)

You can install all the new batteries you want, but if the alt is not charging properly the battery will not get charged and eventually die. This is very easy to test if you own a multi meter.

rowland1980

Is an 03 consider an older vehicle?

digitaltrucker

I did it on an 08.

Trav-ler

Rowland. I don't know if your truck is built like my 09. If it is after reinstalling the alternater you will need to do a battery reset which is very easy to do. The instructions are in your owners manual under battery reset. After replacing the alternater in my truck the voltage gauge in my truck would not work properly.

rowland1980

Thank you Trav-ler for the heads up. I will definitely look in to that.

rowland1980

Turns out the alternator checked out good. Took to two places. So I am at a loss. Wire tracking I reckon

rowland1980

Believe it may have been a ground wire. Charged the battery and seems to be fine. Thank you all for your thoughts and replies. This thread is over and out.

ALTAJAVA

In your first post you said a mechanic told you the starter is bad, yet you've ignored that this whole time. Have you fixed the problem yet?

rowland1980

Yes. Needed a new battery for the one I had the post were on the wrong side of the battery and the positive I had rigged with two pieces of wire. Put the right battery in a d presto. Ran good for a few hours. 1 am out in the country new battery was dead. Had towed to the house figuring the alternator was bad. Later that evening had it checked out with no problems. Frustrated a customer told me to go back and check every wire from alt down. I did so. First wire I traced the was not connected to the relay. Won't make that mistake again, probably will. I didn't ignore him entirerly for if the battery failed the starter would be next a few days later.