Charging problems.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

While driving your alternator should be putting out a fairly constant voltage right? Driving to the shop last night my headlights flickered (a lot) even without changing engine RPMs and my voltmeter kept jumping between 13 and 18. Would this be a loose connection or something? Should be out of the shop in a couple of days and it's gonna be my daily again so I need to get this addressed fairly quickly.

[77ChevySharkBite]

You are right it should stick pretty much at a fair number without really moving any, I would think it might be a loose connection, check battery terminals, then I would say check your headlight wires, and then look at your voltmeter make sure its either plugged in all the way or wires are nice and good. That's all I can think of check your alternator ground too make sure that, that wire is good and ground.

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by 77ChevySharkBite

You are right it should stick pretty much at a fair number without really moving any, I would think it might be a loose connection, check battery terminals, then I would say check your headlight wires, and then look at your voltmeter make sure its either plugged in all the way or wires are nice and good. That's all I can think of check your alternator ground too make sure that, that wire is good and ground.

Gauge is new, so is printed circuit. Alternator is fairly new as well (less than 1k miles on it). All of this worked fine before the engine swap. I'm thinking maybe there is a loose connection somewhere? I'm just wondering where I should start looking. I only can use my moms truck for another week before mine becomes my daily again.

[motornut]

with it running, does it only do it when a certain load is on?
I'd add loads to it, lights, etc heater,one at a time,wiggle connections might find it

[THE "10" SILVERADO]

Originally Posted by motornut

with it running, does it only do it when a certain load is on?
I'd add loads to it, lights, etc heater,one at a time,wiggle connections might find it

Cruising down the road it will sit there and jump back and forth with or without the lights on. I just only noticed it once I used the lights and could see them flashing bright and dim. It even would jump around at idle at a stoplight.

[motornut]

if the board is new,i'd go over that,check clips and plugin,ground maybe
but if the lights dim......prob not there
run a pocket meter off the battery confirm proper chargeing,or from lighter power to compare while driving
I was gona say check the rear light harness(for a trailer hack)
not sure if you could safely pull fuses ,and still run it to see if pulling one it stops