Does your ammeter fluctuate with the grid heater?

[Radshooter]

When I first got the truck, I seem to remember that the ammeter would jump up and down with the grid heater cycle upon a cold start. After the grids stopped cycling, the ammeter quit jumping up and down.

Then, the other day I started watching the ammeter and noticed it does not fluctuate anymore. When I start the truck, the meter draws down to, I'm guessing here, but it looks like about 11 or 12 amps, and just stays there. The only way I can tell the grid is cycling is by watching the dash lights dim and come back up. I can also hear the clicks of the grid heater. After 10 or 11 cycles, the ammeter comes back up to about 15 or 16 amps and stays there.

Is there a problem? If so, is it in the truck or in my memory? I suspect it is my memory, but I can't remember.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[rbattelle]

Steve,



Remember that's NOT an ammeter! It's a voltmeter!



As I commented on your other thread, mine doesn't move. It sticks at 11 or 12 volts during the heater cycle, then moves up to read true voltage (somewhere between 14 and 15 volts).



Here's what the service manuals say:

On vehicles equipped with the optional diesel engine, the ECM is programmed to restrict the voltage gauge needle to a position above the graduation on the far left end of the gauge scale and suppress the check engine indicator operation until after the engine intake manifold air heater has completed a pre-heat or post-heat cycle.

Ryan

 

[RodMorris]

Voltmeter

The voltmeter on mine ('07) flucutates from 11-15 volts when the grid heaters cycle.

 

[rbattelle]

The voltmeter on mine ('07) flucutates from 11-15 volts when the grid heaters cycle.

Right, they changed the programming starting around 2006.



Ryan

 

[Radshooter]

Thanks Ryan. I guess I will have to break down and buy a service manual one of these days.

Thanks again.....
Steve