Battery or Alternator?
 

HI, I went to go drive my jeep tonight which runs very well but when electrical comes on if i'm idiling my battery gauge drops and most electrical shuts off for a second than comes back on but no engine sputtering like it wants to die while driving it won't shut anything off switching from high beam to low, or signaling but as soon as my aux lights get turned on it dropps the battery gauge and shuts my deck and headlights off. Turning the heat off and my dashlights off Bring battery gauge back up to 14. it will start when shut off so I dunno that say batterytome cause every vehicle i've ever had an alternator go in has gotten to the point wherer idiling becomes very fluxual but the jeep idiles solid just has trouble when my electical turns on i dunno any suggestions? Please help..

Re: Battery or Alternator?
 

loose belt or a short

Re: Battery or Alternator?
 

Start with the battery. If it is failing it may be drawing more current than normal to charge it.
This is most evident at idle.
Most battery retailers have equipment to test your battery properly.

Re: Battery or Alternator?
 

Thnaks i will have that checked

Re: Battery or Alternator?
 

Its the battery...

Check the fluid level if its a low maintenance battery, see if its a little bit low... if it is pick up some Distilled Water... Don't use TAP or filtered/bottled water!

fill it to the bottom of the little plastic in the holes... if you want you could check it with hydrometer you can usually find for a dollar these days, some batteries have them built in... if its green (once you add water to it and charge it up) its good to go, if its black it still needs a charge, if its yellow, the acid level is low, or fluid, and it should be replaced...

Re: Battery or Alternator?
 

Jeeps are famous for alternators and batteries crapping out prematurely (or not) as compared with other vehicle makes. The battery in my '89 F150 (bought new) lasted me eleven years before I had to replace it. The alternator gave me fifteen before I had it rebuilt, and that's only because the harness was held up above the exhaust manifold by a plastic "P" clip which failed and dropped the harness on the hot manifold. I doubt a jeep will go ten years without either one of those failing - imo.

Get them both checked. It isn't a big job.