Battery Light...

[CamTom12]

So I was on the highway last night on a 7 hour road trip and my battery light kept flickering on and off (not the first time it's done it on a long trip) and then went steady. I tried the quick fix that worked last time - tap on the alternater with my breaker bar, turn the truck off and let it cool 15 minutes, then hit the road again - well, no dice. Then this morning I went out to check my battery voltage and by the gauge I'm almost in the red.

I figure it's just the alternator gone out, but I thought it wouldn't be bad to get a second opinion in here...

If ya'll could confirm/deny my thoughts I'd appreciate it!

[pipelayerjdh]

Probably the regulator in the alt. going bad.

[SUPER60omni]

Yup. My first big trip to Vermont with my 2000 7.3 ended up with a alternator bill. I was crusing through the campground at about 5MPH and the light just popped on. Im a mechanic and it was the original alternator with like 60,000 on it, so it wasnt that big of a deal i guess. It only took 5 min. to change it. At least it happened at the campground and not on my 3 hour drive home.

[CamTom12]

Yeah, I'm a mechanic too so it was nice to be able to just change it with the tools I had on hand in the truck. 2 foot 1/2" breaker bar and a 13mm socket and I was back in charge (pun intended, haha). I ended up finishing up the drive last night with the alternater out and when I went to start it this morning to charge the battery with the new alt. I had to push start it down a hill to get it running! Once the glow plugs did their thing there wasn't enough juice to turn it over, haha

I've got a new Autozone one with a lifetime warranty on there now

My original alt. had 130k miles on it!!

[bigcountrysg]

Be happy you got 130k miles out of your orginal. I am on alternator number 3. But with the lifetime warranty ones I could care less if it ever goes bad again I just go back to a carquest and get a new one for free no questions asked.

[CamTom12]

Yeah, I'm pretty amazed I got that many miles on it!

Next purchase is twin yellow-tops. I've got a red-top in my Trans Am and I'm really happy with that