Hey guys-
1st off new user here, been browsing and reading for weeks, usually easier for me to find answers on my own through searching but this one has got me stumped.
Here's the situation:
Truck has been running great, drove it yesterday no problems. Got in it this morning to go to work, no problems, started right up, radio works, lights work, heater works, all the normal electrical stuff. About 1/2 way to work I get a Check gauges light (which I have never seen before, I'm used to the check engine light)- damn I thought! Cursed the gods a little, but kept driving. At the next stop light, my radio turned off and I started to think one of the wires behind it (aftermarket) must have loosed up somehow. I scanned the gauges and thats when I noticed the volts gauge at 0. 0! About this time the SRS light came on as well. I knew then that it was a electrical problem. But the truck ran and idled fine. I assume this means it was running off the alternator only. Got to work and shut er off. As expected it wouldn't restart, just clicked the starter.
Can a battery start a truck and then instantaneously kill itself completely?
If the truck was running fine, shouldn't the dash gauge have shown some sort of voltage?
Suggestions before i go out and throw down for a new battery? Being stuck at work sucks on a friday!
thanks in advance,
chris

 

In a normal situation ... you're supposed to drive off the alternator and it also charges the battery from the start-up drain. You were driving off the battery ... your alternator wasn't (isn't) working ... that's why the battery's dead.

 

Take the alt out, and any parts shop will test it for free.

 

^^^ bingo and double bingo

 

Hey guys- thanks for the prompt replies! The problem has been figured out. The 2 wire plug that goes into the back of the alternator had cracked and wiggled its way loose. that harness was just dangling in the engine bay. Got a new one at the junkyard and spliced it in. Everything seems to be working fine again.