Got a dash light disco going on

[cpalka9]

Can anyone explain this?
I already had the brake, vdc, and slip lights on before this started happening because I am currently working on a soft brake pedal issue.
The abs light would come on if I really got into the gas like from a stop. Whenever the abs light came on my radio would go out. Eventually my radio just shut off all together.
I pulled a p1211 code from my ultragauge which is the abs control unit.
Whatever this issue is also draining my battery, even while the truck is running. I could see that my ultragauge was slowly using less power throughout the day. (usually pulls around 12v, when I got home it was only using just under 8v) By the time I got home my radio was off, dash lights dim, windows and wipers barely moved, and the truck had a severe lack of power.
I have a feeling it could be a short with that control unit yes?
Is my alternator just getting weak?
Battery not holding the charge it needs?

I have a feeling this problem was starting before I started working on my brakes because while the truck was sitting for a few weeks, I would go in it every so often and the lights were getting dimmer and dimmer until the battery was finally dead.

I just wanted to get your guys insight and if there is any other possible causes I may have missed.
Sorry for being longwinded.

 

[Muadeeb]

Check your alternator. With the engine running, you should have somewhere around 13v across the battery. If not, you need to check the alternator's connections and possibly replace. With the battery running down like I'm suspecting it has, you'll likely need to replace that sooner rather than later.

 

[cpalka9]

Thanks. I do already have a higher amp alternator coming before this all happened. Would this new alternator just cover up another possible problem by being able to compensate for the power being drained? I should check the original alt anyways though right? becasue if it is fine then the problem lies somewhere else.

 

[Muadeeb]

I never recommend shotgunning parts, unless it's a known issue. Go ahead and check what your alternator is doing. If it looks fine, or the truck is fine after the new alt, you'll need to start checking current loads to see what killing the system.

 

[cpalka9]

Okay thanks

 

[Jbat]

Lights and radio dying are because your battery doesn't have enough voltage to properly control them. As mentioned I would check battery voltage. Sounds like your alternator is not charging. That or you have a MASSIVE draw somewhere

 

[cpalka9]

So what would be the best way to tell what is drawing the power?

 

[Jbat]

Is the alternator charging ok then?

 

[cpalka9]

So after taking forever to get my battery to the parts house for checking, turns out the battery wasn't charging. So new battery and it's running fine. Unfortunately one day later there goes the radiator, can't catch a break haha

 

[Jbat]

Ah man that sucks, at least the first problem is solved.