'96 Tahoe electrical tbl.

[craigaf]

I've had this truck a few years, put a Meyer 7.5 on it right away. E-47 pump,old school toggles, when I plow the drain on the system is nuts! hit the switch for up/down or left /right the lights go dim. Changed the battery, alternator several times, took it to many shops changed pumps, cleaned connections, everyone shrugs their shoulders and says"I DUNNO!" .....HELP!! any ideas? used to be I could plow 20 driveways and have to sit for 15-20 minutes with everything off but the engine and then go again. This last storm.....8 driveways and the truck shut down with a dead battery! I bought an E-60 on E-Bay cause someone said they draw less power...same $#^!
Never had this before with the old K5 Blazers. I just bought another set of cables and plugs to go to the pump, figured I'd double them up.......I don't know anymore, any ideas? Thanks, Craig

[Jerre Heyer]

everyone shrugs their shoulders and says"I DUNNO!" .....HELP!! any ideas? ...I don't know anymore, any ideas? Thanks, Craig

Take a road trip east and north cause phone sex isn't free and you've obviously tried a bunch of solutions a;ready to no avail.

Sorry for the bluntness but I'm tired depressed and sick of people asking for help and not willing to follow directions........

SO put the plow on the truck or on a trailer, load up your wallet and make a road trip. You'll be privy to lots of snow to test my repairs in. If it doesn't work it's free and I'll pay your fuel bill here and back. If it works I'll bill you and you can be happy paying the bill to solve your nagging problem.

Jerre

[craigaf]

Thank you Jerre for your very quick and informative response. It's very comforting to know there is a website to go to where people help each other out with their experience, knowledge, and patience. I'm sorry about not following your directions, I just don't recall getting any from you in the past. As far as directions to take a road trip north east, that would take a while due to the fact Erie Pa. is north west of here. Perhaps that is why you feel people don't follow directions, the ones you give are not accurate. Since you have been so helpful to me I would like to help you back.
You say you are tired, how about, go to bed! instead of being up at 2am blasting people for posting a question in a help forum! and if you are sick, go to a doctor! maybe while you are there, he can remove that stick you evidently
sat on! have a nice day!

[Ron's Asphalt]

I am going to go out on a limb and say that being a new member, craigaf may not be aware that Jerre is probably the most well versed person to get help from in his region, if not north America. He also may not be aware that in the last year or so I have been on this site, I have seen the same questions asked, answered, and directions not followed in favor of "cheaper" fixes numerous times. Everyone has been out for the last 72 hours of so, and we are all a bit tired and cranky.

To craigaf, their is a wealth of information and professional help and services available from the guys here. It is also very much a family type atmosphere. In that I mean most of us enjoy each others company and look forward to seeing and talking to each other. But like any family, there are those relatives that we wish we were not related to and hope don't come around. It is solely up to you to choose which you will be.

[craigaf]

Well, is getting blasted for posting a question part of initiation? Phone sex? what was that all about? I just don't feel his response was called for. If he was worn out then go to sleep. Don't take it out on me. I've been on alot of sites, some snow plowing and and some other subjects. I offer my help when ever I can, FOR FREE. Now maybe we got off to a bad start......I don't know, as you said I am new here, I don't know Jerre, this was my first, and I'm sure you read his reply. You say it's been asked here before, I didn't find it. That's why I asked. Yeah, I'd like to be a part of "the family" but not to be put down! I have an exwife for that!!I know what it's like to be out there along time. I plow 65 driveways and a couple roads, alone, I KNOW TIRED! but when I come home I slam a couple beers and go to sleep, not go online and slam people. If he was that tired, than just don't respond. Craig

[wyldman]

I agree,not everyone needs to load there plow up and drive to Erie. I also know what it's like during storms and working 80 hrs straight with little or no sleep. Jerre is a very helpful guy,but also has a lot going on ...... as we all do at times.

The newer trucks are much more sensitive to low voltage,and typically have smaller alternators which cannot keep up. This causes the truck to die quicker.

What is your plowing style ? Are you always angling and lifting the blade ? or lifting snow over curbs with the blade ? When you lift it,just bump it up off the ground,not right to the top. Don't use the plift function to lift snow over curbs or piles,use snow and momentum. Angle as little as possible. A small change in style and technique can reap huge benefits. Remember the pump draw several hundred amps,and the alternator can only put out 50 or so when it's really hot and overworked. Plus all the amperage the truck draws (computers,lights,heater,wipers,etc). Try plowing with only the markers on. Dress a little warmer and turn the heater down low or off. Less snow will melt and refreeze on a cool windshield vs a hot one,so no need to blast the defroster.Try watching the voltmeter when you crank everything on and run the plow. Now try and run the truck and keep the volts up as high as possible. Try and do this while plowing,and keep your hands off the plow joystick as much as possible.Stopping for a few min between driveways helps too, gives the truck a chance to catch up. Try using a lower gear between driveways to keep the RPM's (andcharging output) up.

Check the plow over well. An overly tight lift ram or angle cylinders will send pump draw way up,as will a siezed or off center pivot bolt. Bad couplers can restrict flow and cause excessive current draw. Pump freezing up will also do it. Look at larger pump battery wires,and grounds. Ensure the pump ground is good and run directly to the battery. Anything that adds resistance to the circuit will eat up current. Are you using a good low temp fluid ? or ATF ? get out every once and a while and knock the heavy snow off the blade,i's less weight to lift everytime.

Although you have replaced the alternator and battery,have you made it any better ? A higher output or larger frame alternator will help. A battery with more capacity will help,even add a second battery.Larger battery cables and alternator charge wires will help too.

I usually find a change in technique nets the biggest gains. I've had good drivers limp a truck for many hours plowing with a bad alternator.

That should give you some stuff to get started on ..... report back with what you find.

Search here too,as most of the stuff I have talked about has been covered many times over.

[craigaf]

thank you for the reply wyldman. When I changed the alternator I got a 140 amp, same results, replaced the battery with the biggest baddest I could get, same results, I am using Meyer fluid. I don't lift the blade all the way up, just off the pavement. My plowing style is the same as it has been for 30 yrs. but I used to use old Blazers, I think you are correct in the "newer" trucks are more sensitive to voltage. The neg from the pump goes to the battery and I doubled the pos. from the alt. to the battery.
I just orderd another pair of leads from the pump to the battery and sel. so I will have 2 plugs and leads. Maybe I will add another battery, marine deep cycle! I have been dealing with this for a few years but it appears to be getting worse. I just want to make it through this year and in the summer look for another truck. This one has 300k on it. Again, thanks for the ideas, I'll keep checking, I gotta be able to do more than 8 driveways! Craig

[Ron's Asphalt]

I will say first that I have never seen a harsh reply like that from Jerre before. I would venture to say that something must be going on to set him off like that. You are right, it was uncalled for. That being said, a few hour ride to his shop may solve all your problems. You have taken this to several shops, replaced many parts, spent countless hours wasting time and money trying to fix this. He garenteed results or no charge. He offered gas money too. Try to get that somewhere else! Yes, a few simple checks should find your problem( I say simple, but no body else has seemed to figure it out), but you need the right tools. Amp meeters to measur draw, load testers to check batteries, volt meters to measeure voltage drop while the system is under load, ect. You also need to know what you are looking for. Jerre makes his living keeping us up and running. The man knows his stuff. People literally drive cross country to have him do the work. They do this because they know the work is done right. Knowing that you have a reliable piece of equipment is priceless. You are in the same state. Make the time.

Some quick math. You say that now, after about 8 drives, you have to stop for 15-20 minutes to let it charge. That is 8 stops with 65 drives, not counting the roads. 8x15=120 minutes. Two hours per event. Would it take you two hours to get to his shop?

I would suggest that you try to forget the first response from Jerre. It was very much out of the ordinary for him. The man bends over backwards to help us out. Give him the chance and I'm sure you will find this to be true.


As a side note, I am ASE master certified. I was one of the top producing techs in the shop I worked at ( I don't work in a shop any more). I am still a pretty good wrench. I sent three meyer pumps to him for rebuilds. Yes, I could have done them, and probably well. I sent them to Jerre to find the problems I would not have seen, or could not have checked. The expanded valves, the releif pressure, bench testing with resistance, ect. Worth every penny! Checks going out monday Jerre.:D

[craigaf]

I'll see what happens after I double the power leads and add a ground to the frame. If that doesn't work maybe it would be worth the trip. But then maybe not after I blasted him back, he may not want to see me !! Craig

[Ron's Asphalt]

I can all but guarentee it is not your lead. high electical resistance = lower amp draw / slow plow. I also know that Jerre is a good man and will wlecome you in.

[Jerre Heyer]

Craig, First off sorry for the missed directions. Spelling change and you'd be down below Pittsburgh. Guess I need to run map quest next time.

As far as the issues with your Tahoe the causes are numerous and related to the type of alternator, battery and configuration of the entire system of the plow motor, alternator, battery voltage regulator whether it is in or out of the alternator, wiring and other components.

As far as the phone sex goes that is related to free phone calls and info while trouble shooting your problem. That is what I'm sick and tired of. I'm offering a solution to the problem. Guess that it's bad that I want to get compensated for it. You've obviously expended a considerable amount of time, energy and money to no avail. I'm offering a fix or it's free.

Oh and it's odd that you could run an old K5 for years with a 45 amp or 65 amp alternator and not have problems but you do now. However you need to look at the fact that you are now running a system with more load on it and a different set up as far as lift geometry and mounting systems. Remember how far back under the K5 that the mounting pins set vs on the new truck?

Oh and on the E60 and amp draw vs the E47's. Unless you are running an E60 with the large packing for the lift cyl you are going to see 100-150 amp no load for amp draw and 200-230 peak under relief loading. On the E47 you will see between 40 and 60 amp no load for amp draw and 200-230 peak under relief loading. The E60 with the large packing will be between 70 and 100 amp no load and 200-230 peak under relief loading.

Sorry to step on your toes.

Jerre

[craigaf]

Hi, Jerre lets start over...
apology accepted as I hope you will accept mine for my responses( especially that doctor thing)...Craig

[craigaf]

I just read the sad news, I'm very sorry Jerre. Craig

[Jerre Heyer]

Craig, thanks.

As I said also I'm sorry for the bluntness of my post but after leaving mom and my dad and doing what My dad wanted which was to take care of my other family and coming back to the shop to wait for a customer stranded in the blizzard on I-90 coming from around the pond in Canada I was inundated by people who seemed eager to complain about there not being ready to deal with the situation at hand on there vehicles and being argumentative which at that time I could not handle very well.

I should have held off on posting as you said.

That being said. The offer still stands to resolve your problem on your vehicle. I did one on Saturday morning to clear my mind.

Let me know if you want to make the trek. I-86 corridor is the way to travel over.

J