[Bearsdad]

This past week I have developed a problem with Electrical. While heading for work at 2:30am my Alternator(Battery) light on. The alternator guage read around 9V. The van then sputtered and died. I restarted and the guage came back to normal and light went off. Problem did not return until 2 days later when it would not run long enough to get to Alternator Shop. While it kept stalling out trying to make it to shop all of a sudden light went out and guage returned. No problems yesterday except the Light flash on and off and Seat Belt light same thing. Now today original problem is back. When it was running on Thursday had it checked out and no problem with alternator (Charging 14V). What next ? Is this the alternator ? Or a short ? I don't have the tools or physical ability to pull the alternator. Any past experiences or ideas. :feedback:

 

[Big_kid]

Engine ground strap? Bad connection? Loose/corroded battery cable? Loose connection on alternator?
I've never had an alternator go intermittent on me.

 

[Big_kid]

EDIT:
Weird- I posted, and it acted like a preview pane so I figured I hit the wrong button. I'm getting older and more senile- it happens. I then hit submit(I KNOW I hit it this time) and ended up with the preview pane again and a notice that another post had been made since I last viewed the thread- it was my post.

They say the best thing about Alzheimer's is you get to meet new people every day. :roll: Is it my day already?

Delete this (or not :shrug if anyone is so inclined.

 

[Jasen]

What big kid said.
Just dealt with this recently, it was a bad ground strap from the batt.

 

[Gary]

EDIT:
Weird- I posted, and it acted like a preview pane so I figured I hit the wrong button. I'm getting older and more senile- it happens. I then hit submit(I KNOW I hit it this time) and ended up with the preview pane again and a notice that another post had been made since I last viewed the thread- it was my post.

They say the best thing about Alzheimer's is you get to meet new people every day. :roll: Is it my day already?

Delete this (or not :shrug if anyone is so inclined.

Naw-I had the same thing happen to me.Just a glitch in the forum.LOL-if once isn't enough,twice is better!!!!, :rofl:

 

[Tygre II]

This past week I have developed a problem with Electrical. While heading for work at 2:30am my Alternator(Battery) light on. The alternator guage read around 9V. The van then sputtered and died. I restarted and the guage came back to normal and light went off. Problem did not return until 2 days later when it would not run long enough to get to Alternator Shop. While it kept stalling out trying to make it to shop all of a sudden light went out and guage returned. No problems yesterday except the Light flash on and off and Seat Belt light same thing. Now today original problem is back. When it was running on Thursday had it checked out and no problem with alternator (Charging 14V). What next ? Is this the alternator ? Or a short ? I don't have the tools or physical ability to pull the alternator. Any past experiences or ideas. :feedback:

My '94 had a similar problem.
I traced the negative wire to a place next to the radiator with a long stud mounted on the body that had 6 ground wires attached to it.
I cleaned them all and made sure they all had good metal to metal contact.
I then sprayed the assembly with that stuff people spray on batteries to keep the crud out.
It has been behaving since.

This might be an easier check before replacing the ground strap.

 

[Bearsdad]

I went back to the van awhile ago. I used my remote to try to start it. Notice the Park Brake, Battery, and Check Engine all staed on even when key was off. Could these be related to the bad ground too ?

 

[astro355]

I went back to the van awhile ago. I used my remote to try to start it. Notice the Park Brake, Battery, and Check Engine all staed on even when key was off. Could these be related to the bad ground too ?

Absolutely. Bad grounds can cause all sorts of screwy electrical problems.

 

[Bearsdad]

Turns out the alternator WAS toast.

 

[Big_kid]

Thank you for posting the followup! Tech support guys always wonder what the outcome is.
:chevy: