No Interior Power, Good Battery, SERIOUS Electrical Issues= No Start

[jwykes]

so the run down:
ya my truck is falling apart, it seems to be something new every week literally
so what happened was, I was driving home one day, and all my interior stuff started flickering, shutting off my deck/restarting, head lights were dimming especially if anything else was on, the alternator was making a god awful whining/whistle.
so I put in a new alt, not factory from GM just a run of the mill auto parts store alternater. truck started right up, ran great, no charging issues no nothing. this was about 2 weeks ago. now today I was in the mall parking lot and the stuff started flickering again, and the voltage gauge was low, between 9-14V. so I got it home, barely cause the truck would almost die at idle.
now I decided im gonna get gas so I can limp this thing to work and figure it out. it fired right up, drove fine, stereo worked. so I thought that was weird.
I then went to go pick someone up about an hour later, and thats it, no start. so I tried to boost it, nothing, the gauges flickered but nothing.
I checked all the fuses in the box at the engine, and they are ok, then I checked all the fuses on the driver side dash, and found that the AUX PWR was burnt out (20A) so I replaced it, and nothing
I checked the battery voltage and its good, I checked that the cables were properly hooked up, they are. and that the ECM is properly hooked up, it is
so im at a loss of words, I tried to describe it with every bit of detail possible
so any ideas? has this ever happened to anyone?
I dont think its the under drive pulleys, maybe thats what killed the alt but not whats keeping power from inside
so any help would be great!

[Bill Wheats]

Bad ground cable is most common, but could also be the Positive batt cable.
You also have grounds from the back of the block to the firewall.
When it's acting up, check the batt voltage and compare it to voltage in the cabin using the same meter.
If rust is an issue you can always run extra grounds. A quick test is to use jumper cables and connect the black to the neg batt and the other black to the engine. Hold them tight and see if the idle improves...

[kacy]

def. check all the cables make sure they are tight pos. and neg.

[jwykes]

well I cant get it running anymore thats the problem. I have no power to the interior. I went out to try it again this morning and I got a "chime" while putting the key in but thats it. its gotta be a fuse or something

[jwykes]

rust isnt really an issue, when I said it was falling apart I meant because of all the problems ive had lately
whats weird is if I leave the truck for a while I get like a fraction of a second of power while sliding the key in, but then nothing after that

[Yogi]

I don't know about the '01, but on my '98, there are 2 cables off of the positive battery post. 1 goes to the starter and 1 goes to a terminal block under the battery. The one under the battery powers everything except the starter. I think that there may be a fusible link or a mega fuse under there also. I would pull the battery and check the condition and connections for what's under there.

[jwykes]

well the one wire goes to the starter and then the other goes over to the drivers side with the fuse box so I guess ill check around there

[jwykes]

I went out and test lighted all the interior fuses, they're all good
I checked the ends of the positive wire from the battery, all good. the power to the main fuse box (under hood) is good.
so I tested all the fuses in that under hood box, and all are good
I decided to try boosting it anyways, and it works runs fine
I can run all of my accessories, A/C fan on high, head lamps on, high beams on, flashers on both amps on, radio going that all works and the volts stay right around 14
HOWEVER once I unhook the booster cables, the volts drop right down to that middle mark between 9 & 14, and starts to die out

[jwykes]

now this wouldnt be the first time ive got some crappy part from a parts store however is that a good indicator that the alternator is going? the fact that my volts drop so low, and everything kinda flickers

[jwykes]

what ive got for amp draw
Alpine CAD 9885= 40W x 4 (or something like that)
Alpine Type R speakers 6 1/4 inch 150 watt
kicker 150wX2 speaker amp
phoenix gold 300wX1 sub amp
JL 150w sub
then the usual AC, head lights, blah blah
so should I be looking for a HO alt?
I do have underdrive pulleys however is that my problem? I dont think it is because the box was saying no charging issues, and if the alt pulley is smaller as well it should compensate for the charging

[Yogi]

The alternator sounds suspect, or maybe the alternator wiring.

Put a voltmeter on the battery with the motor running. Should read 13.5-14.2 at the bat.

[jwykes]

http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/catalog.php?item=122&catid=41&ret=catalog.php%3Fca tegory%3D41
is this something to consider or does anyone know of a good high output alt?

[jwykes]

alright I can check it at the battery, ill have to do that tomorrow or something though cause I dont really have a volt meter at home here

[Yogi]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

what ive got for amp draw
Alpine CAD 9885= 40W x 4 (or something like that)
Alpine Type R speakers 6 1/4 inch 150 watt
kicker 150wX2 speaker amp
phoenix gold 300wX1 sub amp
JL 150w sub
then the usual AC, head lights, blah blah
so should I be looking for a HO alt?
I do have underdrive pulleys however is that my problem? I dont think it is because the box was saying no charging issues, and if the alt pulley is smaller as well it should compensate for the charging

Sounds like a healthy "system" there. The size/rating of the speakers doesn't matter as much as the size of the amps. The stock alternator is only rated for 105 amps, so I would want something bigger if it were mine. Click here for a thread about upgrading the alt. You need to ask for a alt. for a 2001 Suburban with heavy duty alt.

Underdrive pulleys usually have a smaller alt. pulley to compensate so the alt. runs at normal speed.

[Yogi]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

http://www.qualitypowerauto.com/cata...a tegory%3D41
is this something to consider or does anyone know of a good high output alt?

That's a beefed up version of the stock alternator (CS 130). You need an AD244. Check the upgrade thread I posted above.

[jwykes]

so is this the AD244?

[jwykes]

so I would just go to the auto parts store and order up Heavy Duty Alternator for a 2001 suburban? which engine?
and how much amps would that be putting out

[jwykes]

so googling the AD244, it looks like its a direct replacement for most GM alts and supposedly bolts right up and plugs right in no issues.
is this correct?

[jwykes]

I took a look on rock auto, and it looks like the 2001 suburban 5.3L 2wd basically comes stock with a 130 amp alt, which is a lot better then ours.
but does it just bolt up?

[jwykes]

PWM-48233
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=PWM%2D48233&N=700 +4294924653+4294908216+4294907469+4294925143+42948 39060+4294880793+115&autoview=sku

I had heard of Powermaster threw tha s10 crew cab forum you showed me, would this be something to consider? its got even more amp then the AD 244

[jwykes]

nevermind that ones for the inline 4
this is just stressful but im postive its the alt because it had similar symptoms before and then when I put a new alt in it, it worked great

[Yogi]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

so is this the AD244?

No, I'm not sure what that is. Click here for a pic of the AD244.

[Yogi]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

so I would just go to the auto parts store and order up Heavy Duty Alternator for a 2001 suburban? which engine?
and how much amps would that be putting out

Ask for a 5.3L alt. I'd have to reread that thread, but I think that the output was something like 140 amps. And, as I recall, there were others with higher rated outputs, but the AD244 puts out more at idle, and is more reliable.

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

so googling the AD244, it looks like its a direct replacement for most GM alts and supposedly bolts right up and plugs right in no issues.
is this correct?

According to the story, it's plug and play for some '99s and all '00+. I think that it takes a longer belt but that's the only difference. You'd better read the thread to be sure.

[jwykes]

well thats where I got confused that thread was really back and forth. one guy said a touch longer belt might be needed, but if I think about it, mine could probly work

[jwykes]

so since I have UD Pulleys and currently use the 91.5" belt, would I need something like a 92.5" belt?

[jwykes]

so theres no way at all of making my stock belt work eh

[Bill Wheats]

Just a note* Your sound system is drawing upwards of 60 amps. You need to run wire (fused at the supply end) to the primary power source. Otherwise you will be overloading and melting the stock wire, causing voltage drops and a higher current draw as other equipment tries to draw more current to make up for the lower voltages. This will also melt the connection points on the way.
So you probably already have damage. Get all of those added loads off of the stock wiring as soon as possible.

Hense why the ground jumper cable showed improvement.
You also Must up the size of the ground wire between the battery negitive to the frame, or you will burn the engine to ground straps and cook alternaters.

[Yogi]

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

so since I have UD Pulleys and currently use the 91.5" belt, would I need something like a 92.5" belt?

Quote: Originally Posted by jwykes

so since I have UD Pulleys and currently use the 91.5" belt, would I need something like a 92.5" belt?

I would just be guessing on the belt size. You might be able to tell by measuring with some string or rope. It might be trial and error.

[jwykes]

hmm well thats not very cool, what gauge ground should I use? and just wondering but where on the frame does it connect? cause I see it at the battery but then it just kinda heads down

[jwykes]

I tested the volts at the battery
and its around 13.2-13.5 the tester said LOW
and once I got the alternater out, when I spin the pulley it had a weird grinding noise and one of the other guys said "ya that doesnt sound right" haha well oviously