Do alternators just die?

[78C10BigTen]

Leavin work today and the truck started fine, drove 6 miles to the grocery store and went to leave and just click click click. Tightened power on battery and no change. All lights and everything are normal, got a jump and fired right up. Driving home the amp gauge never left the the low red. When i shut it off at home and tried to restard it had nothing but all interior light and everything are normal. So im assuming the alternator ****... do the just go with no warning??? Also auto store said its a single wire, is there a difference in the plugs?

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[Honky Kong jr]

Could be your starter. That alternator has 3 wires

 

[Dougnsalem]

Could be just the battery too, if it took a massive dump. Pulling the alternator down....

 

[Dutch Rutter]

Mine did the same a month or two back. I thought at first it was the battery, put a new one in and it ran great for a day then once the new battery drained i was stuck in town and had to trailer it back home. cleaned all connections real well, replaced the starter with a new one off the shelf, still nothing. Then replaced the alternator with a new one and all is good with the world again.

What I should have done: taken the battery after charging it, alternator, and starter to the local napa and had each one tested. they'll be able to tell you which are bad.

 

[78C10BigTen]

I hafta pull the alt regardless for the core so im gunna have them test it and i know the battery is good because its crank(ed) good and fast and i have full interior lights and such. Im leaning to the alt because of the amp gauge not leaving the low red, usually it rides the edge of the high red.. just took that btw picture so it cant be the battery with my lights that bright, i wouldnt think...

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[78C10BigTen]

Could be your starter. That alternator has 3 wires

Yea i know but the guy was talking about the plug.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Yea i know but the guy was talking about the plug.

Take the pulley off and tell them you need it for an 87.

 

[DoubleDingo]

Had a similar thing happen years ago. Vehicle started just fine to come to work, everything was fine, volt meter was reading proper voltage. Went to leave for lunch and click, click, click. Radio worked, lights worked, electric locks worked, so the battery had voltage. Cleaned the terminals, and click, click, click. Removed the battery to charge it, reinstalled it after charging, click, click, click. Battery had 12 volts with the tester. Took it back out and went to Interstate to have them test it. It had lost the cranking amps. Replaced it and voila!, proplem fixed.

 

[78C10BigTen]

Had a similar thing happen years ago. Vehicle started just fine to come to work, everything was fine, volt meter was reading proper voltage. Went to leave for lunch and click, click, click. Radio worked, lights worked, electric locks worked, so the battery had voltage. Cleaned the terminals, and click, click, click. Removed the battery to charge it, reinstalled it after charging, click, click, click. Battery had 12 volts with the tester. Took it back out and went to Interstate to have them test it. It had lost the cranking amps. Replaced it and voila!, proplem fixed.

After i came home and let it sit (while on the phone with auto stores) for ***** i hit the key and it cranked about 3/4 over and click click click. More then the first time so idk. I hope its not my battery because it was a $175 battery!!

 

[Honky Kong jr]

After i came home and let it sit (while on the phone with auto stores) for ***** i hit the key and it cranked about 3/4 over and click click click. More then the first time so idk. I hope its not my battery because it was a $175 battery!!

How old is it?

 

[78C10BigTen]

How old is it?

Almost 2 years.... also interesting to note i got it jumped at the store by a fellow square owner in his mid to late 20s driving a jacked up 80s blazer that sounded good! Props to him

 

[DoubleDingo]

That's why I stopped buying them at Interstate, they are pricey. Rarely do they last the amount of time they're supposed to. I had one battery, a walmart brand, that actually lasted a year longer, and was still good when I replaced it, but I didn't want to risk the summer with it in the vehicle so I replaced it.

 

[78C10BigTen]

That's why I stopped buying them at Interstate, they are pricey. Rarely do they last the amount of time they're supposed to. I had one battery, a walmart brand, that actually lasted a year longer, and was still good when I replaced it, but I didn't want to risk the summer with it in the vehicle so I replaced it.

I looked all over for the biggest cca when i got this one, it came from napa. Its a napa legend 1050 ca, its a great battery! Whirls that ol 350 over like a drunk carney runnin the marry go round.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

Almost 2 years.... also interesting to note i got it jumped at the store by a fellow square owner in his mid to late 20s driving a jacked up 80s blazer that sounded good! Props to him

Take it back it should still be under warranty. I have had a Neverstart Gold before the 3rd year is up I exchange it.

 

[Honky Kong jr]

I looked all over for the biggest cca when i got this one, it came from napa. Its a napa legend 1050 ca, its a great battery! Whirls that ol 350 over like a drunk carney runnin the marry go round.

Probably a Deka maybe Exide.