Charging/Electrical Gremlins.....Any thoughts?!?!

[2kwik4u]

Looked perfect on the way into work this morning. A/C running the whole way. Several miles of stop and go traffic, several miles of interstate traffic. No problems. Gauge stayed right at 14v all the way in.

I think I might be a little too OCD about the whole ordeal at this point.

With that said, anyone have any thoughts on running a slightly smaller pulley to keep the voltage from dropping off when the idle is pulled down slightly by the A/C compressor in the afternoons? I ran one on my S10 for YEARS but that was in conjunction with an underdrive crank pulley, so the added shaft speed was needed to maintain the charging system.

 

[8bud]

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I am having the exact same problem. I replaced the battery and alternator and I am still getting the up and down on the volt guage and dimming lights, etc. I noticed it stops if I turn off the climate control. Did the extra cables cure the problem for good? That will be my next move I guess.

 

[2kwik4u]

8bud,

The additional cables did help some. Not a huge amount, but they were noticeable. The charging really become more consistent at idle, but otherwise not much was noticeable. The needle on the voltage gauge would still fluctuate a little here and there, as would the voltage as read through the OBD2 data stream. It was either commanded by the ECM to increase/decrease, or there was another load somewhere engaging/disengaging.

Ultimately, the truck never left me walking, and always started, so I kinda quit worrying about it. Traded the truck for a Ford Focus when my commute jumped from 12 miles to 35 miles one way. I miss the room and the power, but 35mpg average is hard to argue with.

 

[8bud]

Did the big three upgrade this weekend, guage hasn't gone below 14 since.

 

[Jdeshler]

I put a new battery and alternator in my fathers 01 Yukon and the gauge would fluctuate and the motor would surge.. After I chewed my nails off worrying I decided to let it be and sure enough after him driving it for a week it straightened itself out??

 

[8bud]

I didn't have any engine surging, sounds like it was something else possibly. At least it squared itself away.