Columbia can't keep a charge

Alternator is bad

 

My '08 Columbia charges 14.0-14.1 all the time. I agree that your alternator isn't putting out enough voltage. They don't cost much and they're easy to r&r. One question, OP. Are your batteries all the same? Same age? Size? I was having some issues with holding charge, some other nagging things I don't recall, anyway I bought 4 new 950 cold crank amp batteries from Fleet Pride ($274!) cleaned everything up, and all the electric problems went bye bye. Charge rate was the same with or without the battery replacement, though, so I guess my alternator was doing it's job for me and it was battery problems. Truck came with 3 different age batteries, 2 different types, all 1,000cca. I really like what happened when I got the 4 new ones installed. My $.02. Good luck, I hope it works out easy for you D&P. (and affordable!) J

 

Not that common but could be a bad cell in one of the bats, if one cell is bad it drains the others when trucks off. U can test a cell but darn if i know how.

 

Logic will tell you the alternator is bad. 12 volts on the dash and 14.1 when hooked to another truck.

 

Voltage regulators gone.

 

Had a similar problem with a 98 Pete that I drove. Corroded battery cables. 12 Volts is low, however - so have the alternator tested, and check all the connections between the alternator and the batteries for corrosion.

 

Part of the alternator

 

It amazes me how many people buy trucks without having a clue about what makes an engine run, or even howBatteries work. You don't have to be a certified mechanic but a truck owner needs to have the know how for this basic stuff. A little bit of effort educating yourself will pay off in tens of thousands of dollars saved.. For example, a thirty dollar tool will check every battery, alternator, and starter you will ever own. You can't get your charging system checked out ONCE for less than twice or three times that.

 

Yeah, he should be able to replace just the voltage regulator and not the whole alternator assembly.