car experts. need your assistance.

[MikeMike]

i have an idea what is wrong with my car right now, but was wondering if you guys could help me make sure.

Ok. on my way home today right before i turned into my street, i noticed my battery light come on. When i got home i opened the hood, messed with the wires, they were all good.

then i checked the guage. i turned and started the car. the guage rested between the 9 and the 14. i then turned the car off, and checked the guage when it was on, but not running. it was inbetween the 9 and the 14. previously when running the guage was always on the 14.

I have a kenwood head unit, and a 400 amp powering a 12" sub.

i believe my alternator has gone. i have noticed that the battery seems to now be struggling to start (well since this happened).

my car is a 98 GMC Jimmy w/ 75k miles on it.

Wat do you think it is?

and if you believe it is the alternator, what should, where should i buy one at, and how hard is it to do yourself? (yes i have experience w/ cars and so does my dad)


MIKE

 

[Pepsi90919]

it's likely the alternator. i had a similar experience with my 89 S10 which has the same gauge as you. first thing in the morning it would read above 14 and then would drop down unless you kept the revs up. then it wouldn't charge at all. so i got a new alternator at a wrecking yard for $75 cdn, put it on [takes 5 minutes on the 4.3L] and it's good as new.

 

[JC]

Put a (known good) voltmeter on the battery while it's running. You should get somewhere like 13.8-14.2 volts across the terminals. If not, it's prolly popped a diode or two in the rectifier.

 

[MikeMike]

up.

MIKE