Got my tags and went for my first drive! and broke down

[ufbugman]

Got my tag for my 71,c10 and went for a ride, 1st stop 2 new lower ball joints pressed in, 2 stop wash at the car wash, 3rd new wiper blades, and then 4th stop got some gas, And then she would not start. dead battery, got jumped and drive home.

I pulled the alternator off had it checked and they say it fine, battery is good also. I hooked up a volt meter to alternator and with the truck idling I had 14 volts. when I deconnect the neg cable from the battery truck stalls.

any ideas?

2nd problem is shift linkage can't get it in park...

specs on truck... 71 c-10 327 with th400 till cpp column

[Secret Squirrel]

Hot wire running from alt is bad? If it's a one wire alt did the plug on the bottom of alt fall out? I have heard that will effect it, but never tested the theory myself.

[ufbugman]

no it's the old 3 wire type..

[mahanian]

My guess would be either it's a wiring issue from the alternator to the battery/fuse panel or the alternator is failing under load. I would double check your chassis grounds as well if the other two are fine.

[ufbugman]

Just tried something, dis connected all the wires from the aternator but ground and hooked up a test light to the battery termail on the alt, started the truck and nothing , should I have had juice?

[9teen69]

I've had problems with these two wires coming loose and not starting, are yours secure?

[RichardJ]

DO NOT ever disconnect the battery with the engine running on a vehicle with an alternator. EVER

That is something some would do with the old DC Generators. It told them the gen was putting out some current, enough current to power the ignition, but it told them little.


>>then 4th stop got some gas, And then she would not start.<<

You might check the starter. Did the engine crank slowly, did the solenoid just click or was there no sound?

[mahanian]

Originally Posted by ufbugman

Just tried something, dis connected all the wires from the aternator but ground and hooked up a test light to the battery termail on the alt, started the truck and nothing , should I have had juice?

Yes, you should have power out of it if your test light was grounded

[ufbugman]

ground wire for test light was grounded even tried it in a few spots...

[68350]

The voltage regulator may have went bad too. Its on the radiator support by drivers headlight. I fought with my 72 GMC having a dead battery every once in a while. Checked battery and alternator and both checked out. Replaced voltage regulator and haven't had a problem at all since

[mahanian]

Sounds like a bad alternator to me

[JustinGJ]

Originally Posted by RichardJ

>>then 4th stop got some gas, And then she would not start.<<

You might check the starter. Did the engine crank slowly, did the solenoid just click or was there no sound?

Yeah, could even be heat soak on the starter after that many stops, are you running headers?

[CG]

Running a 350 with long tube headers on my off topic truck and I had a bunch of problems dealing with starter being way to close to the heat of the headers. Went to a smaller high torque starter and a little wiring work around and its been fine ever since.

I would go to town, do a few stop start errands and it would not start. Even had to have it towed home once =<

[Secret Squirrel]

I've had that GM hot start on my 72 Olds, ended up going with gear reduction starter. Given the details the OP gave my money is still on the charging system.

When the external regulator went out on my Olds my lights got super bright then radio went out and car died (fried my electric fuel pump).

X2 on the bad/failing alt ... Dumb question but you didn't throw a belt did you? Lol I know I know I would hope the belt is on good and tight.
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[ufbugman]

belt is good and tight, I think it might be the alternator myself, advanced auto said it was good, but they also are not the bright bulbs in the package.

I think my last test with all the wires removed and a test light hooked up told me the alt.

But still going to check it again tomorrow before buying a new alternator

The starter is Fine

[tommys72]

Originally Posted by 68350

The voltage regulator may have went bad too. Its on the radiator support by drivers headlight. I fought with my 72 GMC having a dead battery every once in a while. Checked battery and alternator and both checked out. Replaced voltage regulator and haven't had a problem at all since

Same exact thing happened to me....replaced it, haven't had an issue out of since

[ufbugman]

got it figured out! the voltage regular was not gronded good, 2 new bolts and all is fine..

[Secret Squirrel]

Awesome, glad to hear

[In The Ten Ring]

Oh geeze. I wonder what surprises await me when I go for a test drive........

[Ozzy2013]

Cool at least it wasnt serious