Alternator issues

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

nclatino

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2022
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
lenoir nc
First Name
Eduardo
Truck Year
76
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
307
I replace alternator and battery , voltage at 12.85 when off and 14.45 when running but as soon I turn lights on rpms drops alternator belt squeak and alternator stops charging if I disconnect alternator plug rpms go up like is has no load and voltage goes up again .. I rewire it and same thing happened. Any ideas ??
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,742
Reaction score
11,319
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
I replace alternator and battery , voltage at 12.85 when off and 14.45 when running but as soon I turn lights on rpms drops alternator belt squeak and alternator stops charging if I disconnect alternator plug rpms go up like is has no load and voltage goes up again .. I rewire it and same thing happened. Any ideas ??
Well it sounds like the belt is too loose. That's the main cause of a V-belt squealing underload. If the tension is good and the pullies are in alignment, then it could be that the alternator is putting to much drag on the belt, in that case it would be a defective alternator. Even new parts can be bad and if you picked a remaned alternator then it has a greater chance of being bad especially if it a cardone, or store branded cardone, such as NAPA. Though ACDelco remaned alternators seem to be pretty good.

Why was the old alternator replaced? If it was replaced for the same problem you have now then I'd look at other possible issues, but if it wasn't doing this before the alternator replacement and the belt is in good condition and tight I'd be getting that alternator warrantied. If you bought a reman unit, most parts stores will upgrade you to a new unit (if you pay the difference in cost).
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,976
Reaction score
9,923
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
Yes, the most likely cause is a defective reman alternator.
It’s fairly common.
 

Grit dog

Full Access Member
Joined
May 18, 2020
Posts
5,976
Reaction score
9,923
Location
Washington
First Name
Todd
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
454
No offence to the OP, but as I wrote that out I felt like a broken record regarding the reman thing....
Yeah but it’s all good. Alot of people wouldn’t know that if they don’t buy or replace alot of parts. (Unlike you, lol)
And moreso, generally one would expect if they bought a new part or component that IT would not be the cause of another or a continuing issue.
 

nclatino

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2022
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
lenoir nc
First Name
Eduardo
Truck Year
76
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
307
Well it sounds like the belt is too loose. That's the main cause of a V-belt squealing underload. If the tension is good and the pullies are in alignment, then it could be that the alternator is putting to much drag on the belt, in that case it would be a defective alternator. Even new parts can be bad and if you picked a remaned alternator then it has a greater chance of being bad especially if it a cardone, or store branded cardone, such as NAPA. Though ACDelco remaned alternators seem to be pretty good.

Why was the old alternator replaced? If it was replaced for the same problem you have now then I'd look at other possible issues, but if it wasn't doing this before the alternator replacement and the belt is in good condition and tight I'd be getting that alternator warrantied. If you bought a reman unit, most parts stores will upgrade you to a new unit (if you pay the difference in cost).
Old alternator was replace for not charging battery. This is the second alternator I replace because the first one was bad as you said , the weird part which don’t make send to me is that if I disconnect the alternator plug a few times and plug it back in squeaking goes away alternator charges and everything seen fine but if I turn lights on again I get the same result
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,742
Reaction score
11,319
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
Old alternator was replace for not charging battery. This is the second alternator I replace because the first one was bad as you said , the weird part which don’t make send to me is that if I disconnect the alternator plug a few times and plug it back in squeaking goes away alternator charges and everything seen fine but if I turn lights on again I get the same result
That might seem weird but it's really not. It's all about load. When that plug is disconnected the load on the alternator and therefore the resistance to turn the pulley is low. When it's plugged in the alternator is working to charge the battery and the load is increased on the pulley therefore causing the belt to squeal. An internal problem in the alternator can increase that load. If the belt is in good shape get the alternator warrantied.

If your still not sure feel free to post pictures of the alternator and belt, also a video of the truck running and acting up. But seriously doubt any of that is necessary, just go get that alternator replaced under warranty. Upgrade to new if you bought reman.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,742
Reaction score
11,319
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
Yeah but it’s all good. Alot of people wouldn’t know that if they don’t buy or replace alot of parts. (Unlike you, lol)
And moreso, generally one would expect if they bought a new part or component that IT would not be the cause of another or a continuing issue.
Right, one would think a new or remaned part would be good, but it's all about failure rates. A new ACDelco alternator might have a failure rate of less than 2% units where a remaned cardone unit might be around the 15% mark, sure 85% under those figures 85% of cardone units at least make it out of the warranty period....
 

Ontheboulder

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2022
Posts
310
Reaction score
365
Location
colville,wa
First Name
greg
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
gmc sierra classic v2500
Engine Size
350
you might try replacing the belt,sometimes they get worn in to a certain pulley but start making noise with a new one
 

nclatino

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2022
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
lenoir nc
First Name
Eduardo
Truck Year
76
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
307
I replace the belt .. squeaking is gone until I put some load..
 

vintovka

Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2017
Posts
33
Reaction score
31
Location
or
First Name
vin
Truck Year
84
Truck Model
k10
Engine Size
350
Yes, the most likely cause is a defective reman alternator.
It’s fairly common.
This is true of almost all remanufactured parts today so heads up. Recently Had a 2 NAPA reman power steering pumps fail in rapid order. (84 GMC). Last one nearly resulted in a fatal accident. Alternator belt tension is critical and readjustment is recommended as needed.
 

SirRobyn0

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2019
Posts
6,742
Reaction score
11,319
Location
In the woods in Western Washington
First Name
Rob
Truck Year
1984
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
305
This is true of almost all remanufactured parts today so heads up. Recently Had a 2 NAPA reman power steering pumps fail in rapid order. (84 GMC). Last one nearly resulted in a fatal accident. Alternator belt tension is critical and readjustment is recommended as needed.
I just called my contact at NAPA not surprisingly NAPA reman'ed power steering pumps for our trucks are remanufactured by Cardone industries....
 

nclatino

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2022
Posts
6
Reaction score
0
Location
lenoir nc
First Name
Eduardo
Truck Year
76
Truck Model
c-10
Engine Size
307
I got another alternator bigger amps will put it sometime this week
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,136
Posts
909,933
Members
33,636
Latest member
ehef
Top