Battery light

I own a 4.3L v6 s-10, Battery light stays on and my battery is drained... first off is this a bad alternator? 2and Iam hearing a squeaking noise from the engine compartment...3rd can i change out a alternator myself? any help would be appreciated.

1. It may or may not be a bad alternator. There isn;t enough information to decide.

2. The squeaking noise from the engien compartment could be many things, including a slipping accessory belt. That would at least contribute to poor charging and possibly be the cause of all the problems.

3. Of course you can change the alternator yourself. It will take some time, patience, and a few tools. It's not that difficult.

If you decide you want to replace the alternator, you'll have to remove the accessory belt first. Make sure the tensioner has adequate spring tension, the belt is not worn or cracked, and when the belt is removed, make sure the alternator spins freely.

Hi,

If I recall correctly, you can test the alternator by simply unplugging the battery cable with the vehicle running, negative side I think. If it stalls out then the alt is bad. As for changing it out yourself, I have a 4.3L V6 S10 Blazer and it is a cinch to change the alt. Just pull the air cleaner assembly out of the way to gain access to the alt. Then use a wrench or socket(maybe a 15 or 16 metric) to release tension off the tensioner, in order to remove the serpentine belt. If the belt is cracked or worn, it needs to be replaced. And sometimes they look good, but get stretched and make squeeling noises. Once the belt is off, it is straight forward to remove the holding bolts of the alt and plugs etc. Hope this helps.