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Matt Man · 03-28-2020, 11:37 PM

81 k10. Should there be voltage with the key off on the two wires that plug into the alternator?

I woke up this morning to a dead battery and when I checked my battery it was really dead and took quite a while to charge back up. Once I got the battery charged back up, I started the truck and there was some smoke coming from the gauge cluster area so I shut it off. I noticed the alternator was not charging so I took it off and had it tested at the parts store and it was bad.

I got a new alternator installed and now the alternator smokes only when the truck is running and there is no more smoke coming from the gauge cluster area. I can have the key on the run position without it running and it does not smoke. I have inspected the alternator wires and they are in good shape with no issues and everything else works on the truck. I am going to pull the gauge cluster and dash out tomorrow to investigate some more.

Any ideas?

03-28-2020, 11:37 PM	#1
Matt Man Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Buhl, Idaho Posts: 1,438	Electrical Help 81 k10. Should there be voltage with the key off on the two wires that plug into the alternator? I woke up this morning to a dead battery and when I checked my battery it was really dead and took quite a while to charge back up. Once I got the battery charged back up, I started the truck and there was some smoke coming from the gauge cluster area so I shut it off. I noticed the alternator was not charging so I took it off and had it tested at the parts store and it was bad. I got a new alternator installed and now the alternator smokes only when the truck is running and there is no more smoke coming from the gauge cluster area. I can have the key on the run position without it running and it does not smoke. I have inspected the alternator wires and they are in good shape with no issues and everything else works on the truck. I am going to pull the gauge cluster and dash out tomorrow to investigate some more. Any ideas? __________________ 86 c30 crew cab dually 454/400 4/6 drop SOLD 1-8-11 1981 chevy K10 short Bed Scottsdale SOLD 10-26-2020 67 GMC Stepside Straight six/3 on the tree "The Peach" 2020 Silverado Double Cab LT Z71 5.3 8 speed Daily Driver K10 build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=671934 The Peach build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=733903 Last edited by Matt Man; 03-28-2020 at 11:51 PM.