Alternator or battery?

woogs · August 29, 2006

howdy, I have a '95, C1500, the battery hasn't been charging fully. I've been waiting to get it tested because I read something about a security code I have to put in t he radio, and I don't have the code. anyhow, I pulled a trailer the other day, and noticed that when I had my lights on, my tail lights, and the trailer tail lights were dim. Then if I hit the breaks, the trailer lights came on bright and the tail lights on my truck went completely out. Now without the trailer, both of my turn signals blink fast like they do when one is burnt out. except it's both of them. occasionally they will blink the normal speed until I hit the brakes then they'll get fast again until I let off the brakes. Chief at autozone told me it could be the battery because the battery and alternator work in a cycle and that the alternator may just not be able to pull all the weight by itself without the battery.

what do yall think

-matt

95Sierra2500 · August 29, 2006

howdy, I have a '95, C1500, the battery hasn't been charging fully. I've been waiting to get it tested because I read something about a security code I have to put in t he radio, and I don't have the code. anyhow, I pulled a trailer the other day, and noticed that when I had my lights on, my tail lights, and the trailer tail lights were dim. Then if I hit the breaks, the trailer lights came on bright and the tail lights on my truck went completely out. Now without the trailer, both of my turn signals blink fast like they do when one is burnt out. except it's both of them. occasionally they will blink the normal speed until I hit the brakes then they'll get fast again until I let off the brakes. Chief at autozone told me it could be the battery because the battery and alternator work in a cycle and that the alternator may just not be able to pull all the weight by itself without the battery.
what do yall think

-matt

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1. Most guys at Autozone are idiots, I take whatever they say w/a grain of salt, unless the guy I'm dealing with has a similar vehicle to mine that he's modding.

2. Take that truck to Autozone or Advance Auto or Checkers or Murray's or whatever, have them bring out the machine that will check your battery/charging system, no need to take it out of the truck.

3. You need to make sure you even HAVE a radio that has the theftlock on it. And chances are, it was never activated (I never activate mine). Even if it was, a dealer can unlock it for a fee.

superbee · August 29, 2006

Trailers do funny things. The ground generally is provided by the hitch ball, therefore when you first hook up there may be rust dirt whatever making your connection weak. Drive it around and see if it gets better. Also Advance AZone etc should do a free battery load test if you ask. Finally, I completely agree, the guys that work there generally don't know much, and the ones that do don't stay long.

bobcat5544 · August 30, 2006

1st off get your alternator checked just to be on the safe side, also on that year truck gm did not have the radios with security pass code yet.

2nd your turn signals and trailer lights are not being caused by the alternator. Somewhere in the rear of the truck the ground wires are corroded or loose. You can find the ground wire (black) on the driver’s side of the frame rail by the rear bumper. Make sure it is clean and tight. If good then follow it you will find wires spliced it to it from the trailer harness check the splice. If good keep on following the harness. Your problem has it be in the ground unless there is something else going on that you haven’t told me.

woogs · August 31, 2006

haha yeah there is something I hadn't told you, I just realized that when I installed my hitch this weekend, it covered the hole where the screw had gone for the ground wire, so I never put it back. I'll get right on that and let yall know how it turns out. is there any reason I shouldn't just drill a hole in the hitch that matches the hole in the frame where the ground was screwed before?

thanks

-matt