1997 Tahoe Battery Problem

[dutchinndj]

Has anyone had any experience with this.

I just bought a 1997 Tahoe. It has 54,000 miles on it. The previous owner installed a new battery and it wasn't driven much after the install. Probably a few miles every couple of weeks.

On the way home, the battery gauge began reading very low (around 11 or 10v). By the time I got it home it was pegged to the left and the truck died.

I took the battery cables off and cleaned them really good with a wire brush and it fired back up. However, after running for a few minutes the battery gauge started to drop and the lights and gauges got dim again and it died.

Any thoughts???

 

[718frankb]

have the battery checked out at autozone or pepboys make sure its fully charged before you reinstall it. if it does the same thing then it may be the alternator

 

[NYrr496]

Sounds to me like the alternator isn't putting out. With the engine running, put a meter across the battery leads. If it isn't like 14.3 volts and it's falling, that's what it is.

 

[dutchinndj]

Thanks guys. I went ahead and replaced the alternator and that did the trick. Charging pretty at about 14.4v now! LET'S RIDE!