So last night coming out of the store, the battery was dead. I jumped it and drove the 1 mile home. I did notice last night that the generic sealed battery has begun to leak, and testing it this morning, it shows one dead cell and fairly extreme discharge. Good, the battery is easy. Unfortunately the alternator showed a maximum of 12.78v, with 12.22v average when under load and a diode open. Time for a new one.

Now from searching on here, I just want to make sure I am correct. I want one from a 98 or newer to get the highest output, correct? And that being the case, does anyone have one or know of one they can pick up from a junk yard fairly easily? This couldn't be a worse possible time finance wise, and while I can buy from a dealer at wholesale (yes, that is a new development so it helps some), it looks like one will still be around $180 new. Are there any after market ones you would trust? Do you have a spare you can part with? Any help is greatly appreciated...

Gotcha covered with the stop-gap stock '95, Bud.

John B.

Thank you John!

Good news for me might mean bad news for others though. After changing out the alternator for the new (to me) one that tested out as working extremely well, even at idle my voltmeter in the truck doesn't drop below 12v with the high beams on, my foot on the pedal, the music cranking and the AC on. Before, at night when sitting at a light, it would drop almost to the 10v tick with the just the low beams. Several people said that was normal or they see that on their trucks. The reason I say it is bad news for others is that it looks to me now like that should not be normal and might be a sign that your alternator is wearing out. Unfortunately the PO had put in an entirely inappropriately small battery, so my problems were likely exacerbated by that, but still, you might be putting more strain than necessary on your system. I would get it checked if you are seeing anything below 12, just in case...

Good call, Dylan. Glad it worked out for you.

John B.