Low voltage

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Another quick check on the alternator if you don’t have a meter handy is to check the backside center of the alt for magnetism with truck Running. If it’s charging, center backside of alt will be magnetic. I typically just touch it with a screwdriver and it will pull it right in. I’ve used this several times troubleshooting in parking lots for friends when I didn’t have a meter.
 

Bob L

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I am not knocking Auto Zone but I will only do business with parts stores that employ real parts people. I have had several dealings with our local Auto Zone and will not go back other than to buy oil or cleaning supplies. The cheapest place to buy parts is not always the best place to buy parts. We have two Advance stores in town and one employs real parts people and two other parts stores that employ real parts professionals.
If you have to give the engine size to buy wiper blades you are in the wrong store.
 
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I am not knocking Auto Zone but I will only do business with parts stores that employ real parts people. I have had several dealings with our local Auto Zone and will not go back other than to buy oil or cleaning supplies. The cheapest place to buy parts is not always the best place to buy parts. We have two Advance stores in town and one employs real parts people and two other parts stores that employ real parts professionals.
If you have to give the engine size to buy wiper blades you are in the wrong store.
I do agree with this, but in a relatively small town in Montana you get oriellys, AutoZone, or napa[emoji23][emoji23]. I went to napa as it seems the best of the three and my families business has an account there but obviously that didn't work out lol

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kennythewelder

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Our Advance auto parts here suck. We have a main auto zone store here that is good, if you get the rite person, or people. Our Orillys here are good for the most part. We have 1 girl there who's Dad had a repair shop. She gives 110 percent. She was the only person in town that could find me a thermo switch for my electric fan swap. We got one for a BMW, I think. She matched the temp I wanted it to close, and open. When you are doing a custom install like that. you can't give a make and model. I told Her to try a mid 1970s BMW, or VW, or Audi. Any of these should work, but I need it to close at 190 to 195 F and open at 175ish. It took her about 30 mins, but She found it. Its been in my truck for about 2 weeks now, and is working rite, as far as I can tell. The fans also come on with my AC compressor clutch, and that stays on this time of year. It all comes down to the people who work there, and if they want to help you or not, then do they have enough sense to do there job. Are they willing to go the extra mile for there customers.
 

kennythewelder

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I didn't want to post this in the same thread as above, so, There is a hardware store that is across the street from our shop ( at work) They have been around for a long time. You used to be able to find things there that no one else had. A true country hardware store. Well the old people that owned it, and worked there, just got to old to run it any more. They sold out to true value. True value is messing up the store, It is nothing like it use to be. The specialty items that they used to have are all gone. I walked into the store the other day to get some PVC glue for my TIG torch, cooling pipe. I have a PVC manifold to run 3 different TIG torches, and a cooling pipe we use. I sprung a leak in a PVC elbow, so I pick up some blue PVC lava glue. I ask one of the 2 clerks there if this was for hot water. He said well um I thing, I stopped him rite there and said, hey thats ok, if you don't know the answer, you do know. I will take this, because I am almost sure this is what I need. I get back to the shop. I show the glue to our shop helper, and he said, yea, that is what you need. Its for hot water. Its a shame when a 21 year old kid, knows more than a 45 year old man who works at a hardware store.
 

Oldblue98

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The parts man of today, if it don't jump out of the computer at him and slap him in the ear he don't know. Was a time in life the parts guy was a machinist /mechanic/parts man and knew cars and the parts they took. Those days are gone, along with free air and water and the guy that cleaned your windshield and checked your oil =(
 
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Went back to napa turns out I was charged for the right alt the guy just grabbed the wrong one off the shelf, got the wrong serpentine belt too. One thing I noticed while messing with the belt is when I turn my a.c. on it squeals which I thought was the belt squealing but turns out when the a.c. turns on every accessory/pulley stops. The whole belt stops moving. What would cause that? I'm guessing the a.c. is seizing up?

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joep88cheyenne

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Mine just melted the ac pulley on my 97 6.5 Tahoe locked up. It did ruin the belt though. Have to buy a bypass pulley while searching options. Used this as part payment ony 88 Cheyenne. I would check the idlers also. As there should be enough ooohump to move that belt.
 
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Good info, I figured it should have enough force to still move the belt its also weird because the ac will work and everything will spin until it starts squealing and it all stops, few revs and it's back to normal

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kennythewelder

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AC compressor is going out. When you turn on the AC, the AC clutch engauges and the compressor is seasing up. AC off, clutch is not engauged, so it is not turning the compressor, its just a pully when the AC is off.
 
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