Battery will not charge

[boulky12]

I really need some help guys. My trucks been down for about a week now because I can't get the battery to stay charging.

One day while driving, my lights were dimming, radio stopped working, turn signals stopped working. When I got home, I was reading the voltage on my battery with the engine running to see if my battery was charging. I was getting 8 volts.

I was suspecting a bad alternator so I picked up the Reman. 94 Amp Duralast Alt. from autozone. I put it on, and the battery still wasn't charging.

I was reading the Remans are sort of hit and miss, so I exchanged the Reman for a New 78 Amp Duralast Gold. Battery Still isn't charging 

Now it will stay around 11-12 Volts but it's not getting to 13-14 like it should.

I've tried 2 different battery's that are less than 1 year old.

Alt. belt is new and tight.

The wires look fine from what I can see.

I checked for parasitic draw. I'm not drawing anything.

I'm really stuck here. This truck's never had these type of issues. Just happened all of a sudden.

I appreciate the help as always.

[Peter S]

I had a similar problem with my 91 beater truck. It turned out to be a broken ground going to the cab.

[boulky12]

I had a similar problem with my 91 beater truck. It turned out to be a broken ground going to the cab.

Thanks for the reply Peter.

I don't know what I did but as of now, I am getting 13.4 Volts.

Went for a good test drive and everything seems back to normal. Feels so good to be back in my truck.

I'll let yall know if she gives me anymore issues. Thanks

[VileZambonie]

Clean your battery cable connections

[boulky12]

She's giving me issues again. I've been driving her around town but I don't feel confident with her.

I can't get past 12.2 volts on the battery with the engine running. I'm getting 12.1 volts off the little wire in the back of the alternator. This is a brand new 78 amp Duralast Gold alt.

I just cleaned the battery cable connections like Vile said, with no effect.

What else do you guys think it could be that's not letting me get the full 13-14 Volts?

[zieg85]

Duralast Gold... Autozone... not the greatest.  Bring it back to them and have them bench test it.  I've had several "new" ones fail very soon after installation.  I take a chance on alternators but anything like starters I go to a real auto parts store like NAPA and get the good stuff.

[boulky12]

Duralast Gold... Autozone... not the greatest.  Bring it back to them and have them bench test it.  I've had several "new" ones fail very soon after installation.  I take a chance on alternators but anything like starters I go to a real auto parts store like NAPA and get the good stuff.

So now I'm getting 14 Volts.

I was gonna make one last effort to triple check everything and wiggle some wires before I yanked it off and I'm glad I did.

I wiggled the wires that are between the intake manifold and passenger valve cover and it sounded like the Alt actually clicked on and it started charging.

[VileZambonie]

I did not mean just at the battery. Clean the connections on all ends.

[ron350]

Boulky12
It sounds like a loose connection at the Alternator or broken or shorted wires leading to the Alternator.

When you find out exactly what is going on with those wires please post again it will help me and others.

Thanks Ron

[boulky12]

Boulky12
It sounds like a loose connection at the Alternator or broken or shorted wires leading to the Alternator.

When you find out exactly what is going on with those wires please post again it will help me and others.

Thanks Ron

I ended up not finding out exactly whats going on because I'm lazy.

For a couple days I was just keeping my eyes on the volt gauge. Sometimes while I was driving the Alt would just stop charging and the Volt gauge would come down to 9 Volts. When I reached my destination or to put gas I would just shake the wires again and it would start charging again. Volt gauge in the middle @ 13.

For the last day it's been charging and gauge has been staying @ 13.

I probably won't get exactly to the bottom of it unless it gets really bad.