michalik_piotr

this morning my ebrake light (ebrake was off) and charge/batt icon lights would not go off.

i turned the car off and back on, and they were off. 20miles later they came on again.

not sure if this is related but i noticed my volt meter was showing around 13 when it usually shows towards the top close to 18.

anyways, i never did like idiot lights and i would just yank the bulbs (and instal a volt gauge) and i'm thinking this is just some malfunction with the lights b/c the ebrake light is lit when the brake is not on..... anyways, any way to fix this? hate having red lights on my dash and don't want to get stranded if there actually is something wrong with my charging system. i know its not the battery b/c its new. so i guess the alternator is the only thing left? guess if it doesn't charge my batt and truck wont start i'll know.

michalik_piotr

ok, did a search...so it looks like its the alternator? if so, great. how much do they run and how hard is it to replace? time involved? thanks.

04 Rocko Taco

I was going to say definitely sounds like the alternator to me.
I've never replaced one on these motors though, do I couldn't tell you, but iirc it is pretty accesible, and shouldn't be that hard.

You can pick up a Premium Remanned Duralast Alternator for $129.00 at Auto Zone, with a $50.00 core, that comes to a total of $79.00 if you give em the core. Not to shabby.

http://www.autozone.com/N,15700086//...eResultSet.htm

bob200587

I think the remanufactured units are under 100....probably more like 80. From an autozone or similar.

I wouldn't go that route as I did, and I've had to replace their crappy alternators like 6 times....not even exaggerating.

Some people say it's a pain....and it sometimes is. You have to take off the skid plate, and I take it out through the bottom.

It's just 2 bolts, and the nut holding the wire on. It's just in a tight spot.

85toy

$100 damn thats one thing i like about chevy $30 dollar altenators.

michalik_piotr

wow, $100 huh? well, that maybe also be why you had to replace it 10x. dang, i wish it was a $100! i JUST got back from NAPA and spent $220 out the door for their premium one. i get $40 back when i bring the core. nice, huh? ya, just what i budgeted for and like i had nothing else better to do with $200 like buy a ski pass not to mention other stuff for the truck. i hope its just a bad ground or lose wire somewhere, gonna check that first.

bob200587

I really don't remember exactly....it was 4 or 5 years ago when I bought it. they replaced it for free the other 5 or 6 times it went out. Probably won't be able to pull it off again. I've been told that the "Limited lifetime warranty" means they replace it once.

Last time I my starter went out they said they wouldn't replace it, but they would refund my money. I took the money and went elsewhere.

From now on when a starter or alt goes out. I'm either having it, or rebuilding it myself.

fustercluck

for those pesky hard to extinguish idiot lights....

michalik_piotr

i prefer buble gum! no seriously though, i was reading the shop manual...do i need to drain the radiator and take the hose off?

bob200587

Some say they had to. I didn't have to drain or take any hoses off. And i've changed the alternator on my truck like 5 or 6 times. I think it's really case specific.

michalik_piotr

well, took off the hose anyways....maybe i didn't have to but i did and it was an easy job, would have been a lot cleaner w/o taking the hose off though....

so $170 for the alt, $20 for new antifreeze (ya, should have drained it to a clean container vs. my oil pan!!) so basically $200 bucks and its fixed. got me to the beach and back (280miles) this wknd again! wish i could have bought new suspension with that money though.....