I have a 96 chev. I seem to be going through alternators every couple of years. Right now I think that my alternator is always working under full load; but if you disconnect the battery the truck dies. I don't have any starting issues or any charging problems. I have used reman alternator and brand new AC delco. What tells the alternator to charge or not to charge?

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Originally Posted by josh_moody

I have a 96 chev. I seem to be going through alternators every couple of years. Right now I think that my alternator is always working under full load; but if you disconnect the battery the truck dies. I dont have any starting issues or any charging problems. I have used reman alternator and brand new AC delco. what tells the alternator to charge or not to charge??

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The alternators internal voltage regulator is what tells the alternator to charge and how much amperage is needed. You may need to have an experienced electrical shop diagnose your system. It sounds like you are having poor connections, possibly with engine grounds.

What is the vehicle doing that you keep replacing the alternator? True story: I once had a gentleman insist that his Ford needed a new alternator because the gauge was up by the "L" in the "Normal" range.

Who's testing the alternators and determining that they are defective? When was the last time your battery was replaced? Like Rich said, it could just be a bad ground wire... I'm just wondering what else may or may not be wrong