Any Catastrophic Mechanical Failures in High Mileage Trucks?

[mbumpus11]

Nope. It was working fine when I drove to the ski area in the morning; moment I started it up to leave, the battery light was on the dash and the dash volt meter was way to the left, same as ignition on and engine not running. Technically, it didn't leave me stranded, I ran it just on battery for the 45 minute drive home.

Mine has always done the headlight dimming on the original and replacement alternator. The brake booster/ABS system is electric instead of vacuum powered and it has a huge amp draw. If you look in the engine bay fuse box, ABS has 80 amps of fuses

As I read your comment regarding brake booster/ABS being electric, the lightbulb in my head went off and that makes sense. I guess it is just SUCH a draw that if you have your foot on the brake and tap something else (such as the window switch) it will do that brief dimming. Crazy that it still did it after a replacement alternator as well, as I would imagine the replacement would have a larger capacity overall (meaning less draw on battery, of course, but also more "reserve" so to speak when idling, etc).

I'm learning something new every day!