Archived charging problem

[treeman1]

Please help!!! S. O. S I was driving home the other night and my light started going dim, and my factory volt meter would sit on the first mark for a couple of seconds then go to the 2nd mark for a couple of seconds. I was 4 hrs from home so I pulled to a stop to wait for morning. A couple hours later the truck died as the battery went dead. The next day I got the battery charged enough from another truck. I started the truck then pulled the battery cable and a few seconds later the truck would die. I replaced the alternator. When it is running now with a fully charged battery The volt meter does the same thing low for a few seconds then high, and the brightness of the lights go bright and dim with with the volt meter. There is a click from a electric component between the battery and the fire wall. the thing that clicks has a sticker on it that reads 12v coil something. It has four black cables hooked to it. My Dodge is a 92' ext cab automatic with 236000 miles on it

 

[RAJohnson]

Sounds like the grid heater relay is stuck, or gone bad. Do a search on grid heater and you will have lots of reading to do. Might want to make a pot of coffee

 

[treeman1]

where and how do find and check grid heater relay? thanks tm

 

[JFaughn]

It would help if you would fill in the truck info , some yrs the computor has the regulator and I heared that the ASD relay is involved . the grid heaters will make the gauge go up & down but may not stop the alt from charging.
this is why I do not like all the electronics , its an over complicated way to make a charging system work , some guys are putting in an internal regulated alt.

 

[K5IP]

I agree with John,

If the alternator is not charging, you should see the voltmeter drop a lot (more than usual) when the grids come one.

Your grids are OK, and since your battery holds a charge when you charge it, it has to be the alternator system.

Rog

 

[treeman1]

The volt meter does drop tremendously. I have a new alternator.

my truck is a 92' 1 ton dually ext cab 2wd a518. no cpm