Alternator 2011 yukon denali

[DeniGirl]

I replaced the battery in my truck about a month ago. A couple times I've gotten gas it's told me to start the truck, battery is low and the Radio/Nav powers off. Either I got a bad battery or my alternator could be weak. Curious if anyone has had this issue. NE winters are tough and the truck has 145k and I am sure the alternator is original. I plan to make a trip outta town soon and am not trying to be stranded with a bunch a kids!! Is there a way to check these without removing them?

 

[adventurenali92]

Removing the battery is easy. Two 9mm bolts, one on each cable, and then one 10mm bolt down in the bottom of the tray and then the battery will come out. I’d take it out and take it to an auto parts store that can test it and tell you f it’s bad. That’s an easy first step to take. If battery is good then look into the alternator.

 

[DeniGirl]

I know, its just really cold out...and I just did this!! And there is actually a bar across the top and it's a pain in the ass. My luck is that the alternator is going bad....but you're right

 

[adventurenali92]

Oh I forgot about the bar going across. My bad. That should be on one bolt on the side where it meets the fender and it releases the battery. Even after only a month, sometimes bad batteries happen. It’s not unheard of. I live in a ski town in the mountains, I’ve had a pretty mild winter but as luck would have it, every time I’ve needed to do work on my Denali it’s been cold. I feel your pain on the cold part! But it’s like you said, you don’t want to end up getting stuck on your out of town trip with kids, so it’s an easy step to take to check the battery out and rule it out before your trip. Just my thoughts...

 

[DeniGirl]

I 100% agree on that, it will be getting diagnosed before then!! Impatiently waiting for spring!!!