I drive an '86 silverado. It started acting like it was losing charge about a week ago, until finally one day it wouldn't crank. Even with a jump start it wouldn't run for very long. Upon trying to restart the motor, I could only hear the starter.
I replaced the battery, alternator, and the positive battery terminal. The truck starts and runs without a problem now, it's the "extra" components now work incredibly slowly (blinkers, windshield wipers, even the radio cuts on and off). I can't figure out what is causing it to lose the power, or not fully charge.
I've had the battery and alternator tested to make sure I didn't buy faulty products, they're both good. All the connections from battery, to alternator, to starter are clean and snug. I've used a multimeter to check the charge, It used to run about 13.5 when the motor was running, now it runs about 11.2.
Help? Please?
Maybe I didn't explain it well enough, the vehicle starts everytime without any type of fail. I don't need to jump it. The battery still tests full power, and I'm able to drive it every day.
The alternator was tested -yesterday- it's good, it's brand new. Same with the battery.
There is nothing plugged into the cigarette lighter, the cab light stays off. Anything there is to draw power, isn't able to. There must be a problem with the electrical/wiring somewhere that's not allowing it to fully charge.
I'll try to update from posts as they come up.
The readout I got of 11.2 was from terminal to terminal, I'll try using the body as a ground here shortly.
Come to think of it, when I started the truck earlier to set the idle, one of the belts was a bit "floppy" on the pulleys. Although I never adjusted it, it was still moving quite a bit. When I powered the motor off and checked it, it seemed tight, but it sure moved a lot when it was spinning.
I replaced the battery, alternator, and the positive battery terminal. The truck starts and runs without a problem now, it's the "extra" components now work incredibly slowly (blinkers, windshield wipers, even the radio cuts on and off). I can't figure out what is causing it to lose the power, or not fully charge.
I've had the battery and alternator tested to make sure I didn't buy faulty products, they're both good. All the connections from battery, to alternator, to starter are clean and snug. I've used a multimeter to check the charge, It used to run about 13.5 when the motor was running, now it runs about 11.2.
Help? Please?
Maybe I didn't explain it well enough, the vehicle starts everytime without any type of fail. I don't need to jump it. The battery still tests full power, and I'm able to drive it every day.
The alternator was tested -yesterday- it's good, it's brand new. Same with the battery.
There is nothing plugged into the cigarette lighter, the cab light stays off. Anything there is to draw power, isn't able to. There must be a problem with the electrical/wiring somewhere that's not allowing it to fully charge.
I'll try to update from posts as they come up.
The readout I got of 11.2 was from terminal to terminal, I'll try using the body as a ground here shortly.
Come to think of it, when I started the truck earlier to set the idle, one of the belts was a bit "floppy" on the pulleys. Although I never adjusted it, it was still moving quite a bit. When I powered the motor off and checked it, it seemed tight, but it sure moved a lot when it was spinning.