1996 Chevy Truck Battery Died, Alternetor dont keep truck r

CHRISM878

MEMBER
1996 CHEVROLET TRUCK
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
198,000 MILES

The other day I went out and my truck had no power, it was 100% dead, So I put in a battery from my girlfriends car and started the truck, and when I disconnected the battery the truck died. So I took my battery and alternator to Auto Zone and they tested both, and they both passed, the battery just needed to be charged. I came home and put the alternator back in the truck, hooked up the battery and started it, when I disconnected battery it died again, what could this be?

I also looked for inline fuse's and looked in the fuse box to see if the alternator had any sort of fuse but was unable to locate any.

8 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Check gauges fuse no.4 10amp and charge indicator and wiring. Also check for battery voltage at alternator Batt terminal on the rear.

SPONSORED LINKS

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Sunday, December 13th, 2009 AT 12:41 AM

CHRISM878

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Hello,
Thank you for the info. I got your email with the picture but it was the same as the first one on here, but the new ones on here are much more clearer, I could not wait so I went out tonight and checked the #4 red 10amp fuse and it was fine. Then I looked at the wire coming from the battery to the alternator and its an orange wire that says "fuseable link" on it, and there seems to be a black thing in the middle of the wire that might hold a fuse, but im not sure, I took a picture of it and edited it and circled it for you to see. If this wire is the issue, do I need to replace the whole wire, or can a fuse be changed in there?

When you said fuseable link, I assumed it was a wire with a fuse in the middle of it that can be swapped out.

I was not able to do any electric test because I dont have a light tester or a meter, I will get one later on today when the stores are open.

So basicly my question is if I dont get a reading, and the fuseable link is bad, does the whole wire need to be replaced? It goes into a red harness (i also marked it on my photo) but im not sure where the other half goes to. I'll cross that bridge if I need to.

Thank you for the help so far! Greatly appreciated!
Chris

Image (Click to make bigger)

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Sunday, December 13th, 2009 AT 1:36 AM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

The fusible link is 4 wire guage smaller than the wire it protects-either you use 20ga in between or just get the fusible llink and splice in. How to check just get a test lite poke before and after the link the lite should lit both ways-if not it belongs in the trash

If the fusible link is okay start tracking the wire back to the charge indicator for open and short to ground

Wiring okay get the alternator recheck again-Good Luck

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Sunday, December 13th, 2009 AT 2:41 AM

CHRISM878

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Hello,
Here is an update.
I tested the fusible link wire by grounding the tester to the body of the truck, and putting the point on the nut that is on the alternator and it light up, so that tells me electricity is getting by the link.

I also tested the 10A fuse with the tester and it was ok.

I started the truck, the gage in the dash is straight up at 14volts.

Now this is where im confused. I removed the NEG wire from the battery and the truck stayed running, but I removed the POS and the truck stalled out. Does this say anything?

Also, Where is the charge indicator? You said follow the wire to it?

Thank you
Chris

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

Sunday, December 13th, 2009 AT 8:12 PM