low voltage no headlights

[kirchner]

i have an 86 silverado and i lost all my headlights, my voltage metre reads around 11 constantly no matter if i rev it up. i checked all the fuses, tried a new switch. my battery is only a year old and has never been drained, my altenator is fairly new and its a 90amp my signal lights, dash, and breaks all work just no headlights. any help would be greatly appreciated

[2000CAYukon]

Could be a bad battery cable. Check both ends of both cables for good clean connections.

Also check the wire that goes from alt to battery. Any blown fuses?

//2000CAYukon

[kirchner]

Sorry I forgot to mention that I did have a battery post\connector problem, the clamps basically fell apart tightening them back up so now theyre both new. do you mean for me to check the connection from the Alt. to the starter? the're isnt one to the battery, i have a ground from the batt to alt. which i checked and cleaned just to be sure. my alt. has a 2 prong plug that runs to the starter and from what i understand has a fusable link between them. im not sure how to check those links though, theyre a solid rubber. could it be something with my starter? thanks again everybody i know is stumped.

[2000CAYukon]

You can test the fusible link with an ohm meter. Disconnect one end of the fusible link and read the resistance across the link. It will read close to zero ohms if the link is good. Otherwise, the circuit is open and the link is bad.

There should be a red wire on the back of the alt which should go to a power distribution block or to the battery. How does that wire look?

Another option is to remove the alt and have it bench tested to make sure it is really working. Most parts stores can bench test it for you.

//2000CAYukon

[kirchner]

the wire going from the alt. to the starter broke inside the rubber right befroe the washer. i solder'd it up and everyting's back to normal. thanks alot i had alot of people stumped with this one.

[silicon212]

Originally Posted by kirchner

the wire going from the alt. to the starter broke inside the rubber right befroe the washer. i solder'd it up and everyting's back to normal. thanks alot i had alot of people stumped with this one.

That 'wire' is your fusible link, and they don't just break, they melt (within the rubber, as you state). The presence of a blown fusible link portends more serious electrical problems - get it checked quick!

[kirchner]

what i think happend was i changed my starter and it was most likely hanging buy those wires and they streched/torn obviously im not mechanically inclined. thats why in the second post i asked if it could be my starter, i obviously dont drive the old hog very much