*CLICK* and voltage drop..?

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Hey one other question. . I've noticed when cold my '90 Ram250 will produce an audible "CLICK" noise from under the driver side engine compartment, firewall area and at night when I have the headlights on (this is sitting there, cold startup, getting ready to drive off) my voltage gauge will drop to 1/4... click. . back to normal. . click back to 1/4... click. . back to normal, etc, etc. It does it in perfectly timed intervals like 5 seconds apart or so. When I drive off, and get out of the neighborhood it stops. It does it during the day, only when cold though. . I can hear the click it SEEMS that my engine speed changes ever so slightly. . kinda like when an A/C compressor kicks on ya know? I notice that only when I'm standing outside the truck. . but at night is when I mostly notice it, sitting there looking at the voltage gauge with the headlights on. Any ideas?? I never have the heat/defrost or anything on when I first startup. The only thing I KNOW that I've done wrong in the past few weeks since I've got it is drip some coolant on the alternator when I was taking off the top radiator hose last week to check the thermostat, started it up afterwards and let it dry off... don't know, but i'd like to.

Anyone?

BH

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WDW
'90 W250 Daily Driver
'72 Valiant Pro Street Supercharged 383

 

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grid heaters cutting on and off till engine is warm, heating the intake air.

 

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I'll join in with you on this one. Mine does it just as you described for about the first five minutes after cold startup. Been doing it for at least a year now. I've heard horror stories about replacing a computer when they finally stop charging all together.
Chime in experts!

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'93 W250, LE, CC, 4x4, 5spd. , Cummins, K&N, 16cm turbo, Power Wagon injectors, Professionaly rebuilt and calibrated pump, straight exhaust, Lund visor w/lights, 5th wheel, Gooseneck, H. D. rear hitch, Aluminum everything. My Rigs

 

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cullmanboy has it right, is the heaters cycling. Mine does it every morning when the temps get around 45 Degrees F or colder.

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

 

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Man, do I feel stupid now. You'd think the "wait to start" light would flash on each time it cycled. I guess that's why I never suspected it. Thanks.

 

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Hey does anybody's "WAIT TO START" light come on in the summer? Mine doesn't... i usually don't see it for about a good four months or so. A friend of mine has a '92 intercooled (mine isn't intercooled) and his "WAIT TO START" light will come on even after he shuts its off and then turns the key right back on... only for about a two seconds or so if not shorter. Why doesn't mine do that? Is it the year, or the fact that its intercooled? I thought something was wrong with mine. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks! Josh

 

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The clicking on the driver side is probably the heater grid. If it were on the passenger side it would be the A/C compressor kicking on and if you have the defroster on. My wait to start light only comes on when it is needed, cold enough. It will come on as a light check, along with the water in fuel light, everytime I turn the engine on.

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90 W250, 5-speed, isspro gauges, 16 cm2, K&N, Borgeson shaft, JRE 3" exhaust

 

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BadHemi,
I can't do it right now but when I get back I'll send you info on how this system works. It comes on for a few minutes when the temp gets around 50 degrees and goes to full cycle when the temp gets to about 40 degrees. I'll look it up and let you know. Got a funeral to go to now.

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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K

 

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Thanks for the replies. . I sure do feel a lot better now. Not knowing too muh about diesel engines, I wasn't sure what it was, but had a feeling (hoped) it had something to do with cold weather starting. The only reason I asked is because it drops power SO much on the gauge when it does cycle. This makes sense though. .

Thanks again

BH

 

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Yeah, do all the '92's and up preheat for a second or two even if the engine is hot? My friend has a 92 and his wait light comes on for a second and then goes off again when his engine is hot. His dad's 98 does that too. Mine doesn't do that, and neither does any other 91 and older truck. I've been trying to find out why for the past 5 months, but nobody can give me an answer. Any ideas?

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'91 D-250, Cummins, 3 speed auto, 165k, Hurculiner bedliner, after market bumper,custom one tone metallic blue paint job (sorry no pics) and completely stock... . for now anyway

 

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OK, I'll try to put this down so it's not too confusing. It's from my 93 dodge service manual.

There is a preheat cycle and a postheat cycle of the air inlet temp relays. When in preheat, the time the "Wait To Start" light stays on different lengths of time depending on the temp:
a)Above 59 Degrees F, 0 seconds
b)18F thru 59F, 10 seconds
c)1F thru 17F,15 seconds
d)-15F thru 0F, 17. 5 seconds
e)Below -15F, 20 seconds

After the engine starts, there is a post heat time if the temp is under a certain point, a number of things can happen. If its real cold, both heaters will come on and stay on. If above a certain temp the heaters will cycle with one on and one off, then they switch. This is the clicking you are hearing. The manual doesn't say what the temps are.

Now, having said all this, I want to say that my heaters don't seem to come on until the temp is around 50 degrees and the cycling happens when it gets around 45 degrees.

Hope this helps clear up the clicking question. #ad


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Stan
93 2WD extended cab, Banks Power Pack, K&N Air Filter, PW Injectors,Auto w/4. 10 rear with limited slip, US Gear Exhaust Brake, 31/2" Exhaust, 5K air bags, Boost/Pyro/Tach Gauges, Green/Silver, new 40-20-40 bucket seats, 149K