alternator gauge

[rbattelle]

Well, I think that pretty well wraps things up. VolsFan, are you still out there somewhere? We need an update.

-Ryan

 

[VolsFan]

hey, sorry, I was in northwest indiana for four weeks and could not get on a computer. He had two new Deka batteries put in and rebuilt the alternator. Everything is working flawlessly. Also, when I was working on it, it needed a tie rod, unrelated, but truck is doing well. The batteries and atlernator were original, its an 03 with about 204k. Thanks for the info

 

[VolsFan]

also, his charging gauge is reading properly now,so, whatever.

 

[rbattelle]

He had two new Deka batteries put in and rebuilt the alternator. Everything is working flawlessly.

That's great news! Glad to hear everything worked out.



I apologize for hijacking your thread.



-Ryan

 

[Shadrach]

While driving home from a camping trip today my alt gauge dropped to the bottom of the scale the "check gauges" light came on and the dash went "ping". When safe I pulled over but couldn't see anything obviously wrong. When I started the truck up again the gauge worked, for a minute that is then "ping" the "check gauges" light came on and the gauge was at the bottom of the scale. I still had a 100 miles or so to go so I kept driving. My batteries are group 31s and are only a year old so I figured I was OK to keep going. Just to be on the safe side I didn't stop and refuel like I normally do, but went straight home. After parking the trailer the gauge worked fine when I restarted the truck. Again it only lasted a minute. When it works briefly it shows "normal" not major charging like it would if it had been not charging at all and just running on batteries. After supper tonight I went to fuel up and every time I started the truck the gauge worked fine but it only lasts for a minute.



I understand how these gauges work or should I call them " glorified idiot lights" . BTW I have Isspro coolant and oil pressure gauges mounted on my pillar. ( the factory gauges do seem to match them )



Anyone have any ideas? I don't drive my truck daily so it's not an issue right now, but I don't want this to continue. Shadrach

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

Put a voltmeter on the battery, start the truck, observe the readings before and after the dash gauge goes flat. Check all battery terminals and ground connections.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[Shadrach]

My mechanic buddy cam back today so I had him hook up his fancy Snap-On box to the batteries and the alt output lead. He tells me my alt is not putting out enough volts. Time for a new alt. Any suggestions or should I just go with a stock replacement? Shadrach

 

[steved]

I ordered one from National. It's 160 amp, which is a tad more than stock. It's a direct bolt in... I posted a link for them a while back.

 

[Shadrach]

Well I charged up my battery so I could still drive it if I needed it. I don't use the truck daily so no problem. My buddy is supposed to rebuild the alt for me "soon". Wed I sold my daily driver ( Jeep Cherokee ) so I needed to drive the Dodge. It turned out to be unseasonably hot for use( 32*C/90*F ) so I needed to use the A/C as I drove to my appt after work. I knew I was in trouble when the radio cut out and the dash went "bing" again. When I came out of my meeting the truck wouldn't start, so I called the AMA ( auto club ) and had to wait 2 hours for a flat decked Freightliner. His weight tags said he could only carry 3700 kgs ( 8160 lbs ) not much room for error on a big Dodge. Today I picked up a new alt and will install it this weekend.

Lesson here: when it breaks fix it NOW - there is never a "good time" to do it. Shadrach

 

[Shadrach]

Went to change the alt yesterday. The pulley on the new one is different. I need to use my old on as I have a Kilby on board air compressor system.



Kilby pulley

<a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/shadrach1984/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN0402.jpg" target="_blank">#ad
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new style pulley with rubber seal in end

<a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/shadrach1984/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN0399.jpg" target="_blank">#ad
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splines under seal

<a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/shadrach1984/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN0401.jpg" target="_blank">#ad
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My alternator is mounted lower, under the air compressor. I took out the air box assy and was able reach in and remove it quit easily

<a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/shadrach1984/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN0395.jpg" target="_blank">#ad
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I noticed a wire that wasn't attached to anything- not a good sign. It was the one that goes from the alt to the rt battery. No wonder I wasn't charging the batteries.

<a href="http://s447.photobucket.com/albums/qq195/shadrach1984/?action=view&amp;current=DSCN0398.jpg" target="_blank">#ad
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When I got the alt out I looked at the stud where that wires goes - again not good. Seems that the nut came off and the wire must have arced against the post until it burned off ( just a guess ). I could have put the new on, I just wouldn't have been able to use my air compressor or exh brake. Here you can see the old one with the "short" stud and the new one with the "normal stud".

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Fortunately I had a "good used" alt lying around that I put on and the system works now. I will have my friend rebuild the original one this winter. I returned the new one to Dodge. Shadrach

 

[RDeFayette]

batteries

well i cleaned all the posts and traced down all of the grounds and cleaned them all, and it worked great! Or so we thought. Had the batteries load tested at advanced auto and they were about half. He drove it home from my house, and it started acting up again. What I dont understand is how it would just go flat after being at full charge. The truck does have 205k on it with the original batteries, but I figured it would be a gradual drain rather than all at once. I swear, that is a great truck, he does not maintain a thing on it, and it performs flawlessly, until now that is. I changed the oil on that poor thing, I dont think he changed it for atleast 20k, being generous at that. I'm rambling, but it sounds like batteries I guess, any suggestions? Thanks

Rick

Intermitent short in one of the battery cells.

Keep pushing it and he's going to be riding the shoe leather express in a very (pun intended) short time.

I've had instances where I turned a car off came out 5 minutes later and the battery was stone _ss dead! Wouldn't even turn the dome light on.

Checked it and the voltage was 0 shorted out internally, wouldn't even take a charge!

Probably the only reason it hasn't left you stranded yet is you have 2 batteries.

Change 'em.