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Charging system?

Tiny
NB1433
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 CHEVROLET BLAZER
  • 136,000 MILES
I have a 1995 Chevy Blazer LS, last december I put a new alternator in the car. Today I was driving on a long road trip when it died, acting like the alternator had gone out. I had it towed to an Auto Zone and had both the battery and the alternator tested, they both tested ok. When I got back on the road the car died again approximately 6 miles away. What could possibly be keeping it from charging the battery and how can I fix this quickly and cheaply?
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Monday, March 19th, 2012 AT 4:15 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Do you have a multimeter to do some testing?
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Monday, March 19th, 2012 AT 4:35 AM
Tiny
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I just bought one, I'm not entirely sure what I'm checking for but I thought it might prove usefully to have one on hand.
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Monday, March 19th, 2012 AT 5:54 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Alright lets start by checking the voltage at the battery cables at idle?Then at idle with the inside blower fan on high ac on head lights on high beam?
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Monday, March 19th, 2012 AT 10:12 PM
Tiny
NB1433
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Ok so I ended up relpacing the battery based off a friends advice who had a similar issue and it worked beautifully, at first. I made it about 150 miles before the car decided to die though this time it wasn't like last time. Now th power is fine but it acts like its out of gas, which is unfortunate because I'm thinking the fuel pump went out and I had just filled it with about 15 gallons of gas. On the plus side it got me nearly home so I had it towed to my house and tomorrow I'm going to throw it on my code readerand see if anything pops up. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for the help you've already provided.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 1:37 AM
Tiny
NB1433
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  • 17 POSTS
Interesting side note it decided to start a moment ago ran for about 2 minutes then died again now I'm completely confused.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 1:50 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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When it cranks and wont start see if you have spark?
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 1:54 AM
Tiny
NB1433
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  • 17 POSTS
It does have spark, it even catches sometimes but acts like it's not getting enough fuel. Incidentally pumping the gas pedal doesn't help.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 2:28 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
On a fuel injected car pumping the gas pedal does nothing. When you have a car with a carb and pump the pedal a accelerator squirts fuel into the throat of the carb. When it doesnt start is the security light on solid or flashing?
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 3:33 AM
Tiny
NB1433
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When it does start I didn't notice the security light on at all, it seems to run properly untill the the car abruptly dies.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 5:50 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I was asking about the light being on when it doesnt start not when it starts.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 6:43 AM
Tiny
NB1433
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Sorry, it also doesn't come on when it doesn't start. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 8:05 AM
Tiny
NB1433
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  • 17 POSTS
Well this morning I was out tinkering with the car, no lights were coming on last night this morning after putting the batery on the charger I did notice the ABS light blinking when the car did its not starting bit.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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If you have a crank no start we have to start with the basics you said you have spark. So now we need to check actual fuel pressure with a gauge. Then if fuel pressure is good then check for injector pluse at the injector harnesses with a noid light.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 4:21 PM
Tiny
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Thanks for your input pressure is at 58psi and there seems to good fuel flow. I actualy had it started a while ago and everything seemed to be going well, but its almost like it just drinks up the fuel in the line then dies. Is there a module that might be teling te pump to stop pumping once the car is started? Someone told me it could be the alternator, but I really don't see how an alternator could cause these problems.
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Tuesday, March 20th, 2012 AT 8:53 PM
Tiny
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The computer turns the fuel pump on and off. Have the fuel pressure guage hooked up while its running and see if you loose the fuel pressure when it dies and wont start. That will tell if the pump is shutting off.
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Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 AT 1:26 AM
Tiny
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Just a quick update it was the fuel pump, I changed it out just to see if it would help and the truck runs like a champ now. Thank you so much for all the help.
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Friday, March 23rd, 2012 AT 3:50 AM
Tiny
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Your welcome what a lucky gamble it was the fuel pump glad to hear you got it fixed.
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Friday, March 23rd, 2012 AT 3:59 AM

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