getplastered

K, so the truck died on the wife a mile from home. The usual symptoms for an alternator; battery light, fan goes off, lights dim, truck dies.

So I get a used alternator and a new belt (cause the old one was toast) and put everything back together. After a little boost, she starts and holds a good charge.

The truck runs great for 2 days. On the third morning, I started it and bam, the battery light comes back on and down go my gauges. Is there a way to tell for certain if it's the alternator again or a fuse/wiring problem?

Thanks.

jacobs4x4

You could have screwed up the new alternator if you didn't charge the battery before you put alot of load on it.

dewman

Maybe the alternator was not the problem to begin with. I had a 93 Dakota that was killing my battery overnight, and even when I was at work. I took it to a shop and they put the meter on several things and they said the alternator was pulling a couple amps when the truck was shut off. They said something must have broke on the alternator. I replace the alternator with a new one, but the problem was still there. After a more in-depth examination, it was determined that the voltage regulator was the problem. $10 later the problem was solved.

getplastered

Thanks guys, guess I'll have to pull it and test it to find out for sure.