can smell burnt electrical

1996 CHEVROLET BLAZER
117,000 MILES
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PASTORLEOM1
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  • 1 POST
We have a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer 4.3 4WD standard vehicle, electric windows etc. The other night I smelled this scent that reminded me of when an electrical outlet is burning. Yesterday we had a dead vehicle. After replacing the battery and battery bolts when sitting I began to drive it home and noticed that under a load example lights on heater on etc. at a stop light the VoltMeter in the dash went down towards zero. This tells me it is most likely the alternator. However after asking the guy at the garage in which I left the vehicle running in the parking lot for a while, then on the way home at a stoplight I again put the same load on it and it didn't budge. Is this because even bad the alternator will still gave it a trickle charge? Should we replace the alternator? Thanks to those that will give their advice.
Nov 19, 2011 at 6:51 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 110,194 POSTS
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To be honest. it does sound like the alt is going bad. It may charge at times and not others. Keep an eye on the gauge to make sure it is charging. Also, you may want to have it load tested to see if it holds up. Most parts stores will do that for free.
Nov 19, 2011 at 6:56 PM
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