1997 Blazer battery dying

1997 CHEVROLET BLAZER
6 CYL • 4WD • AUTOMATIC
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MANDERSON1214
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1997 Chevy Blazer, battery has gone dead three times, once when driving, the other two came out to truck and it would start (dead battery). Alternator and battery test fine could it be the voltage regulator sticking seeing how our weather has starting to get colder
Dec 6, 2010 at 6:46 PM
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RASMATAZ
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Check the gauges fuse no.4 10amp in the I/P fuse block if okay double check the wiring to and from the alternator and the battery
Dec 6, 2010 at 6:51 PM
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CARADIODOC
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Use an inexpensive digital voltmeter to measure battery voltage while the engine is running. It must be between 13.75 and 14.75 volts. If it is low, replace the generator. It's possible it is failing intermittently and it was tested while it was working.

It is real common to go through four to six of these piles in the life of the vehicle. Many professionals are finding out that to reduce the repeat failures, you must replace the perfectly good battery at the same time. They will work fine in pre-1987 vehicles, but as they age, they lose their ability to absorb the huge voltage spikes these generators produce. Those spikes can wreak havoc on sensor signals for all of the computers on the truck as well as damage the internal voltage regulator.

caradiodoc
Dec 6, 2010 at 6:54 PM
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MANDERSON1214
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I checked the gauge fuse and someone had put a 20amp in it so I replaced it with the 10amp. Took the alternator off and had it retested it was fine. The guy at Advance Auto had be bring the battery in for another test and guess what the battery was bad the first guy did not do something right when running the test. I will be letting him know about it the next time I see him. He needs to get a different job if he can not run a simple battery test correctly. Thank you for all your help and suggestions.
Dec 10, 2010 at 2:14 PM
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CARADIODOC
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I wouldn't be too hard on the first guy. You had an intermittent problem and he may have run the test while the problem wasn't acting up. He should be commended for not trying to sell you something it appeared you didn't need. The second guy might have not been aware this was intermittent and he could have just used the first guy's testing methods as an excuse or as small talk.

Intermittent problems are always frustrating whether it be in car repair, tv repair, or a computer problem. You never know if it is solved if it doesn't act up again. You can only know it was NOT solved if the problem does show up again.

caradiodoc
Dec 10, 2010 at 6:33 PM
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