intermittant heavy load on Alternator?

[Bernie Benz]

On Nov 21, 2007, at 8:47 AM, Kneale Brownson wrote:

> How old is the alternator?
You must believe that age is a factor, why? My original is doing fine  
at 225K.

Bernie
>
> Feelstranger <feelstranger at hotmail.com> wrote:   Driving it since  
> then, I have experienced many incidents of low voltage on the  
> voltmeter that typically go away eventually, or are gone at next  
> start.
>
> Recently, I realized that this intermittent low charge (voltmeter  
> indicates as low as 12 V while running, sometimes more) was  
> accompanied by occasional belt squeals which got me thinking that  
> the low charge was actually a large load on the alt.
>
> Turning off lights, radio, seat heaters, etc, only helps a
> little.
> Could I have a major short that is doing this?
> So my plan (when I get the opportunity) is to start pulling fuses  
> when the charge is low to see If I can isolate the problem circuit.
>
> I'm open to other ideas, or BTDT.