2003 Sierra starts then dies

Asked by Daniel_GA Jan 15, 2019 at 08:56 AM about the 2003 GMC Sierra 1500 Work Truck Standard Cab LB

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2003 Sierra v6, starts then dies.  Very cold outside.  If I keep pressing the gas it will run but when I let off and it comes to an idle it dies like its out of gas.  
The next time I tried I turned the headlights off and it started and idled fine.  As soon as I turned the headlights on it died.  The battery is less that a year old.  There are no CEL lights.

3 Answers
65,890

firebird338 answered 6 years ago

Sounds like the alternator is not fully charging have it tested for correct charging should be charging at 14 volts.

Mark helpful

Daniel_GA answered 6 years ago

That's what I was thinking. However, back in the old days (before computers in cars) when the alternator died the car would run off the battery until the battery was drained. Is that not the case anymore?

Mark helpful
65,890

firebird338 answered 6 years ago

Back in the old days you could remove battery terminal from battery and if it stayed running alternator was good if stopped running alternator bad can not do that with vehicles that have computers will fry it.

Mark helpful

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