1996 Chevy Truck Charging System

1996 CHEVROLET TRUCK
132,564 MILES • V8 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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NIGHTFLIGHT
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I have replaced battery,alternator & new alternator plug. System charged for a while than stop, causing battery to go dead. What else can I do or check ?
Feb 12, 2010 at 12:13 PM
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JDL
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Welcome to the forum. I'd have to check the charging system. With everything turned off, use digital multimeter across battery posts, the generic spec for a full charge is 12.6 volts. Then start the vehicle, take a second reading across battery posts. the second reading should be higher than the first, if the charging system is working.

Another possibility is a battery drain, with everything turned off. Usually, you check amp draw, with everything turned off. If the specs exceed normal, there is a problem. The older way to do it, is to use a test lite. You take battery cable loose, connect the testlite between battery cable and battery post. If lite comes and stays on, there is a drain. You pull fuses one at a time, when you pull the fuse on the problem circuit, the lite goes out.
Feb 12, 2010 at 12:33 PM