Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Alternator Trouble?

[CToney]

This spring my gen light came on a couple times. I would shut the truck off and restart it and it would go off. Just recently while driving at night with the truck warmed up I noticed my headlights flickering and the voltmeter moving back and forth very slightly. I thought I might have a bad connection to my headlamp relay but I noticed the voltmeter moving during the day. It's harder to notice during the day. It is an intermittent problem. I'm thinking my alternator may need some work any other ideas on my problem?



CR Toney

 

[DJWyckoff]

check the large charging wire for a intermitant connection that will cause those symptoms

 

[San Felipe Bob]

Brushes

I had similar problems and it turned out to be my brushes in the Alt.

When I would hit bumps in the road it would cause the brushes to sometimes work then not work.



Gee wiz 220,000 miles and it finally wore out?

Good thing I have 2 Odessy 1700's under the hood! We drove 1200 miles after the alternater quit.

I'm pretty happy with that!



SFB

 

[GAmes]

If I forget to turn off my grid heaters (they are on a toggle switch) they overload the alt and the PCS shuts it off. It resets on shutdown. Unhook the grid heater solenoids and see if the problem persists.

 

[K5IP]

My vote is for the brushes. Especially if this condition continues to get worse.

 

[CToney]

The brushes were wore out so they were changed along with the bearings. The problem still persisted so I disconnected both of the trigger wires to my grid heater and the problem seemed to go away. I'm going to get new relays and wire in an oil pressure shutoff switch for the ground on the relay trigger. The relays that I can find north of the 49th are made by Cole-Hesee and are 100amp 12v (max 14v) continuos duty with a 50,000 cycle life for $23. I hope they work as I will order them on the 2nd. Thanks for the help I hope once all is done I won't have any more troubles.



Thanks



CR Toney

 

[GAmes]

I've done the oil pressure switch method. Three problems. One is that the grids draw power every time you turn on the key, even if you don't plan to start it (like just putting windows up or down). Two, while starting the grids pull power with the starter also engaged, cuz there is no oil pressure at first. The third was a failure of my switch, it failed internally so the grids stayed on all the time. That is why I now have a heavy duty toggle switch

 

[CToney]

I was just going to wire the ground through the oil pressure switch so that if the computer thinks I need heat I get it until the engine starts. The grid heaters don't run when you run the starter. That's what the wait to start light is for?

 

[GAmes]

If you utilize the ground wire from the PCM that would take care of the start and failure problem but they would still come on every time the engine is shut off and you turn on the key. I had installed a pressure switch in the unused port on top of the oil filter so it bypassed the PCM.