HAHAHA! Don’t think that hasn’t crossed my mind a thousand times. Even over one bad 10 cent terminal stud.

I will say, if this doesn’t solve the problem I will be immediately ordering a new (not reman) alternator.

 

UPDATE #3,564,978

Slapped the alternator back in. Got a really nice connection on those field wires. Even used 600 grit on the terminal plate. Would make Nikola Tesla proud. Went for a 9-mile test drive including a parking lot. Voltage dash needle remained steady as a rock throughout. No light flickering. Even with the turn signal on, that needle barely moved. Had to stare at it to notice any movement. Unusual, as it dances around pretty good normally. So let's see how long this lasts.

My mystery: I keep trying to explain to myself why when, in the past, I would add, upgrade, or relocate the grounds the needle would steady up for a week or two (only to go back to wobbling). Is it possible that "upgrading" grounds will compensate for a marginal connection on one of those field wires? I'm no electrician.

 

Either that, or the mere act of wiggling around the harness while you were adding the ground would 'fix' the connection for a little while.

 

Who knows. Electricity is weird. I don’t know how many times i wiggled that connection and detected no movement (or a change in the dash gauge while it was running). I’m really thinking I’m getting old.

I’d be embarrassed to have a mechanic work on my truck. Three ground cables going to the regulator. Two ground cables going to the alternator. 🤦

 

Today’s adventure.

After a perfect test drive yesterday, today brought a new story. Fired up truck. Dash needle slowly but steadily worked its way to its normal position. That never happens. It normally shoots to the normal position. For about 7 miles the needle would gently lower at stop lights. Then it would gently rise when I took off again. Then, the last 7 miles that stopped and the needle stayed put but a bit lower than normal as if it wasn’t charging as much as it should. Pulled into the garage. Checked the voltage at the battery while idling. 13.6 volts. Normally it’s about 14.3. I also checked the voltage at the battery this morning after it sat all night. 12.17 volts. Normally it’s 12.35.

No fricking idea what this is all about.

 

Ordered a new alternator (not remanufactured). ACDelco Gold $104. Always had good luck with ACDelco Gold stuff. Gonna take the alternator off my list of potential causes. Worth my sanity for $104.

 

Alternator doesn't work as hard if the battery is fully charged.....

 

But it wasn't fully charged. It was sitting at 12.17v when I started it up.

 

But it doesn't take long to top it back off.

I am curious about the slow response on the initial drive though. That seems odd, and I am unsure what would account for that.

 

Now I go out to check the voltage on the battery (having sat idle for 14+ hours). 12.6v I don't think I ever got 12.6v on that battery.