kawaboy13 Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I was loading my truck up tothis evening at market basket when I noticed an odd knocking/popping noise around the distributor cap. I headed up to my lease and On the way back after dark, my interior lights as well as my headlights got dim and kept getting dimmer. At a red light, my truck would not take anymore throttle after about 1500 rpm. I shifted at low Rpms and got rolling about 40mph. The next red light I couldn't get it to go over 10-15mph. I pulled into oreillys and my truck died. It will not crank. Lights are very dim like I'm getting no power. When you turn the key, you still get the normal fuel pump buzz and a click is all.My battery gauge is at 0. It works Off and on so I can't rely on that. They tested my battery and it showed bad battery but I'm thinking maybe my alternator pulled it down? I have to pull the alternator to have it tested. I've never heard noises like this and first thought it may have been the timing chain. The fuel pump I don't believe would pull my electric power like that. Any input on where to start? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete M Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 I would pull the alternator and get it checked. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Hi kawaboy, Agree, bad alternator most likely. Pulling the alternator and having it tested makes the most sense. If the vehicle is stuck somewhere away from home, you can pull the battery, charge it, and see if you can make it home on that charge. Your battery is currently dead, but if the alternator is bad, the battery may just be drained, not defective. Pull the battery, charge it and test it before condemning it. Good luck! Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawaboy13 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 I got pulled to the house. Going to pull the alternator in the morning. Is there anything special to pulling it off to have it tested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Remove one of the battery cables, loosen the belt, take off the wires and pull it! It's been about 15 years since I pulled mine so I don't remember any more details.... But do charge and test the battery. A failing alternator can kill a marginal battery, and a failing battery can kill an alternator....So there may be two problems... Gene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 What year / engine? What was your voltage gauge doing when everything was dying? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kawaboy13 Posted February 11, 2016 Author Share Posted February 11, 2016 1987 4.0. The voltage meter was on 0 and had been working earlier in the day. When I first noticed the dimming, that gauge had already fallen all the way. Sometimes it's like that but it has been working lately so I figured it was reading correctly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOrnbrod Posted February 11, 2016 Share Posted February 11, 2016 Pull and test alternator. If okay- Inspect alt and battery cables for intermittent grounding and/or loose/corroded connections. If okay- Charge battery, start engine and measure battery charging voltage (13.5V-14.5V) across the posts. If okay- If battery doesn't hold a charge, have battery tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketwheels Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 just had the same thing happen to mine, see my post a little further up. have you determined if it was the alternator or one of the wires or ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketwheels Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 If you are still having problems, keep an eye on my "hinky alternator" post as I am having some sort of wiring issue in the harness or dash or somewheres ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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