ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, please help

hey man sry to hear bout your electrical issues. I had the same issues with my chevy when i had it and the alt burnt and blew my amp.  had to by an amp battery and alt.  I had my big 3 upgraded and put in a bigger alt to i think a 140 160 amp cant remember.  Then put in another brand new optima, I know some of these are saying not to get optima but maybe you have a bad cell like i had when my alt blew.  Also I went to the dealer to get my alt it was not that expensive so u might want to check into the dealer for your next alt.  hope that hlps

Edited: 7/8/2009 9:43:00 AM by jcjcsoccerkid

smokey....it does have a warranty but of  course, just my luck the dummies at advance cant find it. i THINK i have the receipt somewhere... randy...he just used the regular one. i doubt he did a gel setting cause the people that work at advance in my town are not exactly car saavy. when i get it tested again tomorrow ill make sure they do that. thanks a lot slmmd97....there's a place near where i live that can rebuild alts to make them put out more amperage. if it turns out that i have to replace mine, ill take the new one there and get it done like that. or if mine is good im still gonna do that. and the big 3 upgrade is on the top of my priority list. thanks guys

well it died on the way home this morning, and killed BOTH of my HID bulbs

should i do the big 3 BEFORE i get a new alternator?

---------------------------------------------Originally posted by bagged85my guess is the battery is burning up alternators.

--------------------------------------------- how exactly does this happen? this whole ordeal  is confusing to the point of anger

When a battery is in perfect condition it is a load on the alternator, that is why adding a second battery sometimes (if not most of the time) only makes the problem worse. As the battery gets normal use it starts to be even more of a load on the alternator. My guess is your battery is at that point that it can still start your truck and maybe run your system or compressors for a few minutes but is weak. When you start your truck your alternator has to supply enough power to run whatever is on (usually compressors because we all seem to get a bit lazy when it comes to fixing leaks) PLUS it has to try to charge the battery. You also have to remember that your alternator isn't putting out all it can at idle.  Alot of times when I see this at the shop it seems like it could be avoided by the customer changing their habbits, little things like sitting at the gas pump with their system and compressors running, or sitting ideling with system cranked in the mall parking lot lol.  Hope this helps man, feel free to call me at the shop if you think a phone call would help. Jay 235-333-7274