alt. dead?

[SoulTerror]

Driving around in my 95 Blazer yesterday with a 4.3v6 (or what ever it is) and I noticed my battery gauge was pretty low. It did this a few weeks ago and was fine the next day. So I kept an eye on it and drove it from Midland to Bay City, and back to Midland with no problems all day pretty much. Today I start my Blazer up and it's still pretty low. Right on the border or the red and white lines. I even noticed my windshield wiper arms where pretty slow. So anyway we go to go to the mall and drive about 6 miles and stop at a red light and the Blazer just dies. I still had power because I could use the power windows and had my flashers on which just blinked pretty slow. So some guy helped me push it out of the way and we waited for a tow truck which really sucked with our 2 year old in the car. So anyway I'm assuming it's my alt since the battery still has power. When we tried restarting it a few times it did nothing, but it didn't strain or anything like it does when a battery dies. So does it sound like it's my alt? I'm gonna pull it off tomorrow and take it to Advanced Auto and have them test it to make sure.


Plus on top of this, my two year old head dove out of the shopping cart at the store, so took her to the hospital to make sure she was fine which she was.

[Phantom409]

Glad your daughter is o.k.

Sounds like an alt. problem
How far is Midland to Bay City?

[93formulalt1]

Sounds like the Alt to me too. . . Usually when the Alt. dies, it takes the battery with it, so make sure you get them both tested. Autozone can test the Alt and Battery in-store for free.

[SoulTerror]

Midland to Bay City is about 20 miles or so.

[s.reef]

my alternator just died too, have to go out into the cold and swap that sometime

[Phantom409]

Midland to Bay City is about 20 miles or so.

Sounds like it was working a little then because you made it a long way.

Deff. get the batt. check like Nick said or you might be stuck again.

[TB2]

It could be the Alt. But it sounds more like a bad connection. Especially a bad ground will do exactly as you described. Check the battery connections. Check the other end of the ground to make sure it's clean. And check the motor to body ground. If they all look good have the Alt. tested. And bring the battery with you and have them load test it at the same time to check for a bad cell. Good Luck.

Glad to hear your little one is ok.

[MP81]

Sounds like it could be the alternator...

[1BADAIR]

thought mine died today.
turns out it was just a little snowy from the 4 foot snow drifts I was playing in

[2002Z4CSS]

Sounds like the alternator. Have it tested from your local auto parts store.

[SoulTerror]

I'll go out and try to check the grounds. No clue where there all at and such. Sucks not having a garage.

[SoulTerror]

I went out this morning and unhooked the battery and the connections where all corroded. So I cleaned them up and hooked it back up then tried jump starting it off the wifes car. Nothing, so I took the battery up to Auto Zone and it's bad. I don't have a breaker bar big enough to get my fan belt off so once I get the new battery I'm just gonna take the Blazer up there and have them test it. I'm pretty sure they can test them with them still being on the car.

[JoeliusZ28]

I went out this morning and unhooked the battery and the connections where all corroded. So I cleaned them up and hooked it back up then tried jump starting it off the wifes car. Nothing, so I took the battery up to Auto Zone and it's bad. I don't have a breaker bar big enough to get my fan belt off so once I get the new battery I'm just gonna take the Blazer up there and have them test it. I'm pretty sure they can test them with them still being on the car.

you should be able to just put a socket wrench on your idler pulley to remove the belt. My truck has a spot for a 4-point 3/8 drive and it gives you plenty of leverage.

[SoulTerror]

My Firebird had a similar thing, but didn't notice a spot on my Blazer.

[SoulTerror]

Put the new battery in this morning and drove it to Auto Zone and had them test the alt. Check came out fine. So that's good.