94 Chevy 1500 Voltage Drop

ceeg · 11-06-2007, 03:29 PM

I have been having an ongoing battle with my truck for about a year now. Early last winter I noticed that when my truck is cold and I am putting strain on the motor, the voltage meter drops to anywhere between 10 and 11 volts. Once the motor changes gears and the strain is lessened, the voltage goes back to normal at 14 volts until the rpm's rise and then again, the voltage will drop. This continues to happen until the engine reaches a temperature around 150 degrees and then all is fine. The problem then gets compounded when the headlamps are turned on, pulling down the voltage even quicker. In the quest to fix the problem I have replaced some obvious parts, the battery and the alternator but none of these have ceased the problem. I have thought about replacing the tensioner pulley but am not convinced it would correct the problem. The fact that everything goes back to normal once the engine reaches it's operating temperature makes me think it is something else like a bad thermostat. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

tjzz4 · 11-06-2007, 08:00 PM

Sounds like belt slip... I`d go with the tensioner.

crabtruck · 11-06-2007, 08:42 PM

Or maybe even just the belt. They can get pretty streched over time and if it has a little oil couild happen too. Is your tensioner adjusted right ? Agree with tjzz4, likely one of those.

11-06-2007, 03:29 PM	#1
ceeg Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 1	94 Chevy 1500 Voltage Drop I have been having an ongoing battle with my truck for about a year now. Early last winter I noticed that when my truck is cold and I am putting strain on the motor, the voltage meter drops to anywhere between 10 and 11 volts. Once the motor changes gears and the strain is lessened, the voltage goes back to normal at 14 volts until the rpm's rise and then again, the voltage will drop. This continues to happen until the engine reaches a temperature around 150 degrees and then all is fine. The problem then gets compounded when the headlamps are turned on, pulling down the voltage even quicker. In the quest to fix the problem I have replaced some obvious parts, the battery and the alternator but none of these have ceased the problem. I have thought about replacing the tensioner pulley but am not convinced it would correct the problem. The fact that everything goes back to normal once the engine reaches it's operating temperature makes me think it is something else like a bad thermostat. Does anyone have any thoughts? Thanks.

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11-06-2007, 08:00 PM	#2
tjzz4 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 276	Sounds like belt slip... I`d go with the tensioner.

11-06-2007, 08:42 PM	#3
crabtruck Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: on your 9 Posts: 3,192	Or maybe even just the belt. They can get pretty streched over time and if it has a little oil couild happen too. Is your tensioner adjusted right ? Agree with tjzz4, likely one of those.