GM / General Motors: '88 Blazer Electrical System Cutout?

Joe Webster wrote:
 
Joe,
I had this problem with my 88 V30 with a 454. The problem turned out to
be an intermittent open on a ring terminal at the alternator.
HTH,
Loren.

Update:

This morning I went back to the truck and it started right up. At first
it had a rough idle, but then it quickly (4 seconds?) ironed out.

I drove it back home (about 2 miles), and let it warm up in the drive
way. It ran for about 10 minutes, fully up to temp (~210) and all seemed ok.
The alt gauge read 14V, and all other gagues were okay.

Not a single problem! I drove it back to my apartment from my parents
house -- about 15-20 mins, and gave it hell. Hit every bump I could see,
went easy, drove it hard and all over... nothing.

I don't know what is wrong... the only thing I didn't do today was use
my heater blower much -- I'll see if that makes a difference.

-Joe

> Joe, 

Well as these alternators are not serviceable -- if it was this my only
option would be a new alternator? This one is about 3-4 years old.

Thanks,
Joe

Joe wrote: 

In many large urban areas, there will be an alternator "rebuild" shop. If your
vehicle has a common alternator, then you get the vehicle to the shop, and they
will rip off the bad one and install a rebuilt alternator, for a reasonable
price. I've installed them myself, so I know it is not a huge job, but the shop
does it pretty quickly, pretty cheaply, and tested it when they were done.

---Bob Gross---

Joe Webster wrote:
 
This was not an internal alternator problem. On my truck (V series,
same basic body style as yours, assuming full size K5 Blazer) there are
two ring terminals attached to the rear power lug on the alternator.
One wire goes directly to the battery via fusible link, the other wire
goes to the fuse block under the IP in the truck. The second wire is
the b+ for the fuses on the left side of the panel IIRC. These fuses
supply power to items that don't require the key to be on i.e.. horn,
lights, ECMb. My particular problem was the result of a bad crimp on
the second ring terminal. When this happened I would have no lights, no
horn, crank but no start. If this happens again, its pretty simple to
track down with a test light.

I hope that clarifies it a bit.
good luck, intermittent problems suck.

Loren.