2 years ago I replaced my alternator with a rebuilt. Yesterday, while camping at Dosewallips on Hood Canal, my truck wouldn't turn over so I had to push it, and it ran fine but when under load the check engine and brake lights came on. I drove it back to the campground and I added a lot of water and charged it up which only took a little while with the State Park's charger. Today I drove home for about an hour and then hooked up the charger I found the battery was fine. NO starting problems and no dash lights. Do I have a problem or not?
Thanks
Mark

if you have an multimeter or volt meter here is an easy way to see if it is charging. Start the vehicle and allow it to idle.
Connect the volt/multimeter to the positive and negitive battery terminals, there should be about 14 - 14.5 volts, now give the throttle a good rip and you should see a small voltage drop and then it should come back up to around 14 - 14.5

At the battery, I'm running 14.5 volts. Was I just too dumb and let my battery get dry? I had to put almost two pints of water in it!
Mark

Might've answered that one yourself; science in action....

Get an Optima.. seald cell makes life easier <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Costco has the Optmia batteries on sale right now too.

Just FYI, the costco Optimas are a little smaller in capacity than a 'standard' optima. Still a steal of a deal, and I love my 800ish CCA red top.

FYI: This is my 3rd optima in my Toy. Red tops hate deep discharges from winching/sitting for long periods. If your rig is trail only and gets parked for 2-month stretches, be religious about pulling the negative cable, or get a yellow top.

Well, I'm not so sure that it was just a dry battery. After driving for 200 miles or so with the last 25 with headlights on, the truck wouldn't start after stopping. We pushed it and it started fine, ran fine, but under load the battery and brake dash lights came on. I turned on the headlights (it was dark) and the red dash lights no longer lit up. They would illuminate if the headlights were turned off. We drove for 30 more miles, with no dimming of the headlights- so doesn't sound like an alternator or battery. While coasting I turned off the engine then tried to slip the clutch and start it again but the dash was black and no start. Walked home and towed it back and have the charger hooked up, but the battery is nearly fully charged. Could this be the ignition switch?
Thanks
Mark

After you charged it did you disconnect the battery and then test it? Still sounds like the battery is not holding a charge. but I may have killed your alternator since it had to work so hard to get the battery going.. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I installed an Optima battery and new cables and everything is fine! Such a simple solution. Thanks for the ideas.
Mark