So on my way to work this morning that truck was acting weird. The battery gauge would spike and then drop back down to normal. This would last any where to a split second to half a second. It was also completely sporadic. On the way home it was the same except that is spiked and stayed for about a second. When it spikes all of the light that are on inside and out will get really bright. I had the heat on and the blower would go faster like if you were to turn up the speed. On the dash besides the battery gauge spiking the battery light would come on and I could also see the ABS light come on. I am assuming that the ABS light was coming on because the ABS system was getting too much power.

I am going to assume its ether my alternator or my voltage regulator. Don't know if the voltage regulator is built into the alternator or not because the last time I have to do change the alternator was on the old Jeep and it was separate.

Any help it appreciated. Thanks Cody.

 

I'd think it is an internally regulated system, i haven't looked into it. But I would imagine that would be your spiking problem. You can have it tested.

 

its a gost.. jkjk yeah some thing is not working

 

plug in a code reader and see if you come up with a code.

 

i dont know for sure, but i replaced my alternator today. and the guy running the test on it said the voltage regulator on it might be out. so i would assume its part of the alternator. pretty easy swap

 

I don't have a code reader and don't really want to drive the truck any more than I have too. So no luck for me.

I will have to look into that. . If nothing else I will start with swapping the alternator.

 

take it off and take it into oreillys or something like that. they will run a free scan of it real quick then you will know if you need to replace it or not. mine today was 130 bucks for a remanufactured one with a lifetime warrenty

 

Run by AutoZone have them check it for free, They will check you alt and battery and help you diagnose the problem.

 

Prolly got a bad zenor diode in the charging system. There are zenor diodes in the battery,in the alternator,i think maybe in the rectifier bridge,and prolly in any other capacitor in the truck.

Basically a zenor diode collects all the extra unneeded voltage produced and dumps it to ground.

 

Make sure and get the battery checkd out under load. That's the easiest thing to do. I've had a some funny experiences like that and started worrying about alternator and regulator, etc - and it was a bad battery all along.

 

Well I will take the truck to Auto Zone or Advance tommrow. I have a few things I gotta get done after work tonight. Thanks for the help so far.

 

Trouble codes aren't going to tell you anything about the alternator, voltage regulator, or battery.

Your voltage regulator is toast. Its built into the alternator. Take it to any major auto parts supplier. They can test it to confirm this and sell you a new one. Some things in our trucks don't react well to high voltage. You need to fix this sooner than later.

 

I had a feeling that it was my alternator. A guy that I work with has a ranger and I was talking to him about it and he said it sounded like what happened to him when it alternator went out. Looks like I am going to go pick up a new one tomorrow. Also I am not driving the truck. Until I fix this it will be my beater car.