Alternator

[svcattle]

What model alternator does my 96 have ?

[trbankii]

Should be the Delco Series CS130D.

[svcattle]

Finally had the time to put a meter on the the thing 14 volts at idle headlights on high beam dash gauge shows 10 volts

[Dvldog8793]

Howdy
Try measuring voltage at different points in the system. Firewall junction, fuse panel, cig lighter, ect...
This might help you determine if you have a loss someplace or if the gauge is reading incorrectly(most likely)
Also possible that the ground for your gauge panel is poor and effecting all you gauges.(also very likely)
I have very little faith in the factory gauges!
Good luck!

[DmaxMaverick]

This looks to be isolated to the IPC. If the PCM sees 10V with the engine running, the Charge/Battery warning will be on. It could be as simple as a ground or dirty connector issue.

[svcattle]

This looks to be isolated to the IPC. If the PCM sees 10V with the engine running, the Charge/Battery warning will be on. It could be as simple as a ground or dirty connector issue.

Who or what is ipc

[DmaxMaverick]

Instrument Panel Cluster.

Common Acronyms thread. (http://www.thedieselpageforums.com/tdpforum/showthread.php?t=20598)

I haven't read the thread in a while. If you do, and IPC isn't there, add it.

[arveetek]

Definitely check for a loose body ground... I had similar problems on another model GM, and it was a bad ground from the battery to the body.

Casey

[svcattle]

Thanks for the replies guys . I'm thinking its a bad ground because when I signal my gauges bounce around with each time the blinker flashes

[Dvldog8793]

Yep, bad ground. If one is failing replace them all.

[svcattle]

Where are the ipc grounds

[brandongarnold02]

I can't say for sure on yours but my 94 grounded to the metal bracket that the holds the diagnostic port. I just had a similar issue. The more I had turned on like headlights and blower motor the lower the voltage it showed on the gauge and when the turn signals were on the gauge would jump but the speedo and tach would also jump. I ran a heavy gauge wire right from the battery to the the dash grounds. This brought the voltage up some but the gauge still jumped. I found high resistance on the ground wire from the gauge to the grounded point above the diagnoptical port. I just cut the wire at the gauges, spliced in a new wire and ran it down to the ground.