On the back left corner of the alternator there is a bolt comming out, a black copper wire attaches to that. Well gages were reading low voltage so I checked it and the wire was loose. I pulled it out and was looking at the connection, the bolt had gotten so hot that it fused with the fastner on the end of the copper wire. I knocked off the excess slag and put it back together, I jump started it and I checked the connection and the bolt was glowing, super hot.

So what should I do to remedy this? new bolt? new alternator?

Thanks.

 

That's a ground. Something is not right if the gauges are reporting low voltage and the bolt is red hot.

 

Sounds like a winding or diode shorted to the alternator case and then shorting out through the ground wire.

 

i dont know what year your truck is but there is a recall for 2001 about loose alt wires. check it out