Battery not charging light for first few seconds

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bstrang6

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every time I start the truck just about for the first 60 seconds or less the battery not charging indicator shows in the driver information center and the voltage hovers around 12 as soon as I start driving is slowly creeps up to 14 then stays there. The truck has no issues starting or running.

secondly, I have replaced the other aftermarket head unit that came with my truck with my double din Kenwood. Ever since doing so, I hear "onstar not available" or something to that like played very quietly when I'm in the truck and it's not running, seems to happen about everything 3 minutes or so. very odd any ideas how to completely disable OnStar all together? I never have any plans on using it.
 

sumo

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Put a volt meter on the battery. Whats the reading with rpm over 1k. running > 13v
 
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bstrang6

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Alright another weird occurrence, went out to the truck and hit the remote start ( aftermarket Viper ) instead of the unlock, so I turned it off with the remote and hit unlock ( idk if thats relevant but wanted to provide the most data possible ) got in the truck and turned it on, and the gauge cluster didnt work. Nothing lit up, no needles moved, completely looked like the truck was off, but it was running. I also had no reverse gear, but forward gears worked. I turned the truck off, put it in park, opened the door, closed it, started the truck, and this time had reverse but still no gauge cluster. I reved the engine to around 2500 rpm for a second or two and the cluster came alive, and has been working like normal ever since.

I will grab a DMM from my pops house this evening and check the output of the alt
 
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bstrang6

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Okay just now leaving walgreens five mins from my house, battery gauge wouldnt move over 12 volts. So I dropped the ole lady off and ran to autozone two mins from my house, turned truck off, went in and waited, had them check the battery and alternator.

They said the battery tested good but low.
Then I started the truck and he said voltage only moved to around 11.9, so he thinks a bad alternator.

So I turn the truck off go price the alt, come back out to truck, starts right up but no cluster. Only thing lighting up is the back light, no needles move, no dic, but turn signals light up fine, head lights arnt dim, truck runs fine. I get home turn it off and back on no problem.

So im worried its more than a bad alt, as the truck seems to start up perfectly. is it possible that this alternator not putting out steady power, and not enough to power up the cluster fully?
 

Goodinblack

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Wow.

I hope you figure this out too.

Check some of your grounds.

Onstar sucks.
 

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