Ok so I'm leaving for work and my truck won't start. I figured no big deal sometimes you have to put it in neutral to start it. It still wouldn't start but I could here the starter clicking. A few more tries and it started but the voltage meter stayed at the first whit line and the "gen" light came on the dash. After about 3 miles the voltage came up to normal but the light is still on. What does this light mean and can anybody help me. It's a 97 1500 5.9 with about 182,000 thanks on advance.

 

I turned the truck off cranked it up and the light is off. I'll have to see what it does when I get off at 6.

 

i think it means you have an almost dead battery. unless you like jumping it in cold weather i'd recommend you load test/replace it, especially if its over 3 or 4 years old - no questions asked.

 

^my buddy is having the exact same problem, only way to keep it going is to keep on the gas, and it putters. his gen light is on (96 1500 5.2 2wd 119K was my dads truck VERY well maintained)

could this be an alternator or is it def. the battery? my buddy isnt mechanically inclined and doesnt have the money to do both.

 

My dad had the same problem with his alternator it would not charge until it was drove for awhile. But the volts on mine is doing the same so I'm going to try that.

 

you can voltage test the big wire on the alternator with a meter while the truck is running. if its around 14 volts, then its probably good. most alternators last a long long time.

the best way to test the battery is with a load test. any autoplace can do it for you for free in about 10 seconds. most batteries don't last more than 4 or 5 years.

 

I'll agree on the battery.Alt. lasted 400,000 miles on my truck

 

My dads truck has almost 400xxx and he's on like his 4th alternator. I'll stop by oreilly's in the morning and have the battery checked. But how come the volt meter on the dash didn't go up till I drove for awhile?

 

pay attention to the cold cranking amps if you do get a new battery.
my stock battery had 600 cca and it was a slug in the way of starting.
i replaced that with an everstart maxx battery that has 875 cca and now it really zings the starter even when it's 20º outside.

 

Not sure,may be charging it up until you shut it down.Probably just won't hold the charge.