I have a 2000 silverado ext 4x4 5.3l that I have been having a little
problem with.
A few days ago I was driving and noticed the battery light come on and
the volts gauge was reading around 10 -11volts. I turned off all
accessories and headed her for home.
Once home I took the battery (delco factory) to Canadian tire for them
to test it. It tested "replace". So I did with a new 875cca terminator
battery. When I installed the new battery the truck started fine but I
noticed the battery warning light was still on. I let it run for 20min
or so to see if it would charge. (or what ever was wrong might
magically fix itself) The light didnt go out so I tried some of the
accessories to put a load on it. The wipers and blower motor ran but
noticeably slowly.
I just decided to let the truck run with all accessories off. The
battery light didn't go out so after running for 1/2 hour or so I shut
off the truck and the the battery now shows 11.7V across the terminals.
I charged the battery back up to show 12.6V across the terminals.
Then I started the truck and checked the voltage across the terminals
with the truck running (no access on at all)......11.3V....What
the.....and the bleeping battery warning light is still on.
I tried revving the truck to 2000-2200 rpm (no access on at all) and
the voltage across the battery went up to 11.49 at one point but it
also fluctuated down to 11.27 also....
Does this sound like a new alternater to go along with my new
battery???? What are the odd that both the battery and alternator would
crap on the same day???
PS. I have never had another issue with this truck until this.

 

Your alternater definatly sounds like its bad, and its cheaper to have them rebuilt if there a reputable shop in your area that does them. If you battery was original it was probably due for replacement no matter what. Seven years on a battery is pretty good. If you cant get it rebuilt then make sure you get a good name replacement not one of the low line ones cause you will be changing it again in a couple of months more than likely.

 

That's a pretty common problem with Chevy/GMC trucks. Battery, alternator andsometimes a starter every 100,000 miles. Sure beats a transmission every 35K (coughDODGEcough). I've accepted the fact and still buy Chevys.

 

I have a '95 Silverado with 180,000 miles on it. I have to replace the battery about every couple of months.

Something is draining the battery and I don't know what it is.

I checked the alternator and it is okay. I am going to replace the distributer and the spark plugs and put vaseline on the battery terminals.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Your old battery may not have been the problem. Alternators will run $120 - $200.

 

if your battery goes dead the alt. usally overunns itself trying to keep up it is pretty easy to rebuild them and the parts are real cheap you just have to be able to get the parts

 

I had the alternator checked at autozone and it was alright. I think its the starter and solenoid under the truck but Im going to check my wires first.

 

Def the alternator going but I'd replace it asap as a bad diode pattern can fry the new battery too and the warantee will not be honored.

Bad alternator can easily kill a battery. Common for both to go at once.

 

the jumper cable test confirmed it was my starter and shes runnin fine now.

 

Start simple first guys... clean the cable ends really really well,make sure to scar the surface. You may even want to buy new ones, if the connection only lets out so muck voltage then the alt will only charge it so much too.