Fluctuating voltage

[Adventuren1]

Something just dawned on me though. My glow plug (grid heater?) light has come on at random times this summer. Just driving normally and and it lights up for awhile and then goes out.

 

[DavidC]

Those sensors are going bad for the second time. They start to cause a miss in the engine and pretty soon it won't run. And sounds horrible when those sensors go bad. It's shut and tow right then.

Bad diodes in the alternator will allow excess AC ripple which is very hard on electronics, may be part of your problem.

 

[AH64ID]

Something just dawned on me though. My glow plug (grid heater?) light has come on at random times this summer. Just driving normally and and it lights up for awhile and then goes out.

This sounds like a update that Dodge did years ago to indicate excessive return flow on the injectors.

How old are your injectors?

 

[Wayne M.]

I guarantee your position sensors aren’t the problem but you do definetly have some gremlins running around in there. You need a good electrical guy involved.

 

[Adventuren1]

This sounds like a update that Dodge did years ago to indicate excessive return flow on the injectors.

How old are your injectors?

Original injectors I'm sure

I guarantee your position sensors aren’t the problem but you do definetly have some gremlins running around in there. You need a good electrical guy involved.

 

[Adventuren1]

I guarantee your position sensors aren’t the problem but you do definetly have some gremlins running around in there. You need a good electrical guy involved.

Yeah, I know it;s not associated with the sensors. Just mentioned it because I have an appointment to have them replaced under warranty. I replaced them just over a year ago and they are going bad again. 2 year warranty from the dealer fortunately

 

[Wayne M.]

Yeah, I know it;s not associated with the sensors. Just mentioned it because I have an appointment to have them replaced under warranty. I replaced them just over a year ago and they are going bad again. 2 year warranty from the dealer fortunately

This is a dealer that’s doing this work?

 

[Adventuren1]

This is a dealer that’s doing this work?

Yes, the dealer has a 2 year warranty fortunately. I've read on here about the issues with these sensors. I can confirm that they go bad repeatedly. The dealer has not looked at the electrical issue yet. I wanted to get some sort of idea on that before I go in.

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Here are a few other articles about your problem. Most of them boil down to bad injectors. Are you getting any codes?
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/grid-heater-light-comes-on-while-driving.246960/
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/intake-grid-heater-coming-on-while-driving.237921/
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/wait-to-start-light-came-on-while-driving.235633/

 

[Adventuren1]

Here are a few other articles about your problem. Most of them boil down to bad injectors. Are you getting any codes?
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/grid-heater-light-comes-on-while-driving.246960/
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/intake-grid-heater-coming-on-while-driving.237921/
https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/wait-to-start-light-came-on-while-driving.235633/

Great info, thanks. I haven't started researching that issue but you just helped a ton. Thank you. I get code P0341 for the Cam sensor but that's it

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I'm not sure if the other problems these folks were having would also a fluctuating voltage. I have this USB plug that goes in the cigarette lighter and shows me a digital voltage and I verified it's pretty accurate with a regular voltmeter so you get a real good idea of your voltage while you're driving. Amazon product ASIN B0773BYS6P

 

[DonFitzwater]

Just go ahead and schedule injector replacement. With that many miles and knowing how bad those vintage injectors were, you're going to need a set. As mentioned earlier, the wait to start light coming on while driving means you are having excessive return rate caused by worn injectors (most of the time)

 

[Adventuren1]

Tu

Just go ahead and schedule injector replacement. With that many miles and knowing how bad those vintage injectors were, you're going to need a set. As mentioned earlier, the wait to start light coming on while driving means you are having excessive return rate caused by worn injectors (most of the time)

Turned out to be just the batteries.

 

[Adventuren1]

Your batteries are TOAST!!! It's hard to wrap one's head around extreme short life of batteries in heat. In hotter areas of the country we have a simple test for batteries:

Are they under 2 years old?

Yes: Well at least it's under warranty if it tests bad or fails.

NO, over two years old. Replace them. Anyone running longer that 2 years is simply pressing their luck. And congrats they actually made it two years.

You have to take the ground off one of the batteries to test them. Most stores don't and with one good battery and one 'open' or weak battery the test passes. The good battery carries the bad battery through the test.

Again insane life reduction for higher average heat.

https://lifelinebatteries.com/knowledge-center/

Battery calendar and cycle life are also affected by temperature. As a rule of thumb, the battery life decreases by 50% for every 10⁰C rise in temperature. Thus, a battery that lasts 6 years at 25⁰C will last 3 years at 35⁰C, 1.5 years at 45⁰C, and 0.75 years at 55⁰C. Similarly, a battery that lasts 1000 cycles at 25⁰C will last 500 cycles at 35⁰C, 250 cycles at 45⁰C, and 125 cycles at 55⁰C

You are the winner on this one! It was the batteries.

 

[Adventuren1]

Just to update on this, for one, I fat fingered a button when I listed the mileage on the truck. I have 160K, not 260K on the truck. My problems were headlights dimming to almost unusable, cam sensors causing a skip in the engine, glow plug light illuminating while driving, fuel mileage went to 12mpg on the highway. According to the dealer, all caused by bad batteries. No issues since replacing them and my mileage is back to about 17mpg in the rural driving I do. So, I'll put off the $3500 injector job for a little while longer. I had an Interstate Battery shop "test" my batteries when this was all happening and they told me they were good. But all they did was disconnect one side to test with their meter. (My batteries were maintenance free type so no checking electrolyte in each cell). The dealer pulled the batteries and bench charged and tested each one. The alternator output tested good. Thanks for all the help on this guys!

 

[CoastyAV8R]

Glad you got it taken care of, its always a learning experience when I see problems like yours tied to a set of tired of batteries.