So after i got my new alt put in i've had a problem

Battery is a Red Top.

unless the truck is really warmed up, the lights pulse (everylight in the truck) when its running, when its off its not.

this morning it was cold, and the battery was pretty much dead. i let it run for a while and went to the gym and came out an hour later and not even close to enough juice to start it.

now my battery is like a year and a 1/2 old. its been dead like 2-3 times, i have upgraded wires under the hood (big 3)

it was running with a bad alt for like 2 days and just driving to the shop.

i'm guessing more than likely its the battery dying. i haven't been able to throw an extra battery under the hood since its been cold out lately and no heated garage.

just wanted to hear your opinions, tomorrow i'ma take the battery back to the place and see if i can get a new one.

 

Optima batteries are horrible in my opinion. I've never had good luck with them. Some people swear by them though. I like Interstate batteries.

If you just replaced the alternator then it must be a bad battery.

 

I love my Red Top. Take it back and get a new one.

 

Battery was tested bad, so i got a new one today. threw it in my truck and still was doing the pulsing thing, i'ma either call the place about the alt tomorrow or take it to a shop cuz i need to get some other things on it done yet.

 

Pulsing is a sign that the regulator is bad. I am pretty sure the regulator is in the alternator. So basically the alternator would be bad.

 

X2. even new alternators can be bad sometimes, especially if its an autozone special. bring it in and have it tested. a bad alternator can ruin a good battery in short order.

 

yeah, i'm going tomorrow to get it checked at.

it was a rebuilt they had on the shelf. it was a pretty nice shop.

randomly my old filter leaked while in there shop, they let me change my oil and stuff on there lift inside which was nice.

 

okay so i went back to the shop today.

give me some ideas guys!

Things that are new:

Battery
Alt (rebuild)

so when my truck is COLD.

the headlights/dash lights/anything electrical pulsates when the truck is running, but i have no idle problems, the truck runs fine.

everything is normal when isn't running.

took it back the shop that put in the alt and they were checking my volts and amps for a while. which it was putting out the correct # of amps when it was warmed up.

when the truck was in the shop and warmed up, it was fine. but now after work it was still doing it.

i put new terminals on the battery today, and i have the big 3 wire upgrade done as well.

only other thing i can think to do is go and clean up all the grounds, or bring it back and have them put another alt in. but it was running fine when warmed up.

what do you guys think?

 

IMO, you hit the nail on the head with checking out the ground wires.

As far as the alternator is concerned, diodes and other electrical components can "just go bad". Rebuilt or not, 9 times out of 10 something like that is not going to be a fault on the shop who supplied the alternator....FWIW

Not sure what the 3 wire thing you're talking about is but regardless make certain there isn't any contamination where the grounds contact the frame or elsewhere. No rust, oil, paint, etc.