I have a couple of issues that came up with my truck this past week and I was wondering what you guys thought (besides burn it and get a new one).
My truck is a 2004 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0 gas with about 240,000 miles.
This past week I towed my travel trailer back and forth to Colorado. The travel trailer is about 10K pounds. I have taken it up there about 7-8 times with this truck and never had issues, but it is getting old.
I have three current issues with the truck.
#1 Brakes: When I was driving for a while and then I applied the brakes there was a squeal under the hood that sounded like when you turn the steering wheel really far to the side or when you are low on steering fluid. The squeal had nothing to do with the steering. It was 100% brakes. It was pretty loud when I first hit the brakes after driving for a while without using the brakes. If I held on the brakes it kept squealing, but if I let off and tapped or pumped them it would get quieter with each tap then go away. I don't know if it only happened with the trailer behind the truck. It was on all terrain.
#2 Coolant: I drove all the way to Colorado and spent 10 days there and about 150 miles from home I was passing some cars and I noticed my in dash computer said something about the coolant being hot. I looked at the gauge and it usually runs about 215-220 and it was about 240 or so. I was running 70mph with the gear in drive and I was at about 4000 rpm. I immediately dropped to about 60-65mph and the rpm dropped to 2500 rpm or so and the engine cooled down and never did it again. I never went that fast the rest of the way home. I had been driving across New Mexico at 70mph in 102°F and didn't have any problems. It was 98°F at the time.
#3 Battery/alternator: About 45 minutes after #2 happened my battery light came on and the in dash computer said the battery was not charging. I immediately turned off the ac, radio, running lights, and anything plugged in the cig lighter. I drove the next 100 miles watching the battery gauge falling slowly. The gauge reads from 9-19. It usually sits at 12 and over the next 100 miles it fell to just over the 9. When I applied my brakes, I would see it fall. When I used my blinkers it would fall. I basically drove into my land and parked the truck. I then tried to roll up the windows and it died. My guess is the alternator is dead. If it were the battery and not the alternator I would think the voltage would remain constant without any other electrical components on. Just a guess. The trailer being towed had electrical brakes.
I did not pull the codes yet. It is on the charger now.
So besides burning it and buying a new one. What are your thoughts?
My truck is a 2004 Chevy 2500HD 4x4 6.0 gas with about 240,000 miles.
This past week I towed my travel trailer back and forth to Colorado. The travel trailer is about 10K pounds. I have taken it up there about 7-8 times with this truck and never had issues, but it is getting old.
I have three current issues with the truck.
#1 Brakes: When I was driving for a while and then I applied the brakes there was a squeal under the hood that sounded like when you turn the steering wheel really far to the side or when you are low on steering fluid. The squeal had nothing to do with the steering. It was 100% brakes. It was pretty loud when I first hit the brakes after driving for a while without using the brakes. If I held on the brakes it kept squealing, but if I let off and tapped or pumped them it would get quieter with each tap then go away. I don't know if it only happened with the trailer behind the truck. It was on all terrain.
#2 Coolant: I drove all the way to Colorado and spent 10 days there and about 150 miles from home I was passing some cars and I noticed my in dash computer said something about the coolant being hot. I looked at the gauge and it usually runs about 215-220 and it was about 240 or so. I was running 70mph with the gear in drive and I was at about 4000 rpm. I immediately dropped to about 60-65mph and the rpm dropped to 2500 rpm or so and the engine cooled down and never did it again. I never went that fast the rest of the way home. I had been driving across New Mexico at 70mph in 102°F and didn't have any problems. It was 98°F at the time.
#3 Battery/alternator: About 45 minutes after #2 happened my battery light came on and the in dash computer said the battery was not charging. I immediately turned off the ac, radio, running lights, and anything plugged in the cig lighter. I drove the next 100 miles watching the battery gauge falling slowly. The gauge reads from 9-19. It usually sits at 12 and over the next 100 miles it fell to just over the 9. When I applied my brakes, I would see it fall. When I used my blinkers it would fall. I basically drove into my land and parked the truck. I then tried to roll up the windows and it died. My guess is the alternator is dead. If it were the battery and not the alternator I would think the voltage would remain constant without any other electrical components on. Just a guess. The trailer being towed had electrical brakes.
I did not pull the codes yet. It is on the charger now.
So besides burning it and buying a new one. What are your thoughts?
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