ok so long story short, yesterday i changed out my timing cover gasket due to that leaking. while doing so, I removed my a/c compressor since that's been seized up well before i bought it, using a shorter belt. Once the job was done, I noticed my check gage light was on and the volt gage was reading 10, but drop to zero after a minute or two. I went over the battery with a tester and it was reading fine. Even after the truck was turned on and off dozen times. So I risked it and drove home (about 30 minutes). Today I drove the truck doing some running around, volt gage was still acting up though. Then as Im on my way home the air bag light cam on, then a minute later the radio stopped working, then a few more minutes later the cluster went out (which gave me no blinkers, head lights, tails and probably brake lights). Yet the truck drove fine. Once I got home I parked and shut the motor off. wouldn't restart. Just get get a little chug from the starter and nothing.
So would the alt maybe have a poor connection finally draining the battery? did either of the two plugs for the a/c compressor cause issues? Any help would be highly appreciated.

 

Vehicle info? Did you happen to clean the battery terminals?

 

sorry, its an 01 ram 1500 with the 5.9 magnum (auto 4x4)

was just messing with it a little and I'm fairly certain its a charging issue. boosted it and got it running, but only had 7 volts.

 

Did you clean all the terminals? There are some ground wires that attach there also.

 

To my knowledge you can't buy a shorter belt have to buy the AC bypass pulley

 

going to pull the alt in the morning to check all the connections and clean everything. battery is about a year old so shouldnt be that. hoping its just poor connection from being apart.

there is a belt to bypass the ac. even the sticker on the rad support showing the belt path, shows it bypassing the ac

 

You sure can, see the "Accessory Drive" section in the FSM. No additional pulley.

 

Well I'll be, learn something new everyday everyone I've seen had the AC bypass pulley

 

Might want to check the fuse first.

 

I did a little digging this am and took moparite's suggestion before pulling the alternator. Well luckily I did, blew the 140 amp fuse. Spent the afternoon searching for one and after 8 parts stores (including a napa warehouse) who only had up to 100amp. I had to hit the dealer, which they had to order in for tomorrow.
Seems like I forgot the #1 rule of working on anything to do with vehicle electronics, DISCONNECT the battery.