2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission GEN idiot lite is on

[DBentley]

On the way home tonite and GEN lite comes on for 1st time since I owned this beast. I assume its a charging trouble. my volt meter was around the 12 volt mark when it lit up. Had hi beams on and nothing else. after 10 more min of driving it went up to 14 volts as normal. When I got home suspected grid heaters were locked on and they were draining it down but intake was cool. also checked the 4 fusable links at driver side batt and all ok. Also all fuses under hood are ok. did notice alt was very warm mabey hot to the touch. bat cables are all cleaned and greased 4 weeks ago. what should i ck before buying 2 new batts and a new alt??

 

[crabman]

DB,

I would pull the Alt. and have it bench checked at a good auto-electric shop. If ok, then using a hydrometer check each cell and do a load test also. Batteries usual last 4 years but if one is bad replace both. Also check/clean your ground connections on the engine.

I electrical problems.

Good Luck

crabaman

 

[DBentley]

thanks crabman i rigged 2 temp led lites today on hood to monitor the grid heaters and they arent sticking. So its off with the alt in am to the auto electric rebuilder down the road. If all is ok with alt then off to auto zone for a set of optima blue tops. I have been looking for an excuse to get a set of optima blue tops.

Tdr is great thanks again for the help.

 

[crabman]

DB,

Let us know what the FIX was.

Thanks

crabman

 

[bmoeller]

The alternator output is controlled by the ECM. No internal or other external voltage regulator.

 

[DBentley]

Got it all set. The ALT had a bad diode or something the auto elect shop said after puting the alt on the bench tester so I got a rebuilt on and its charging at 14+ volts now. Didnt take me long to remove + replace 20 min or so. nice easy repair . Thanks everyone for the help.

 

[DODGEDADDIE]

HOWDY,,,,,,,

I had a very simler thing happen,,,,,,,I have 156,ooo ON truck and had NEVER SEEN or heard the "CHECK GAUGES",,,lite/chimes

 

[DODGEDADDIE]

oops !!,,,,,,,, I hit the wrong key... . LOL

Any way looked at DASH an didn't see really any thing wrong??

But a few days later it was on more an more,,,,,,,had an AUTO PARTS store check charging system and it was only putting out 10 AMPS,,,,,,,,,bought new ALTERNATOR,,but before I got home with just parking lights on,,,,IT WAS VERY DARK,,,,LOL

The change out was really quite easy,,,,,,,,,EXCEPT!!!,,,The pulley on the new one was smaller the mine,,,,,

WITH OUT THE RIGHT TOOOOOOOLLLLLSSSSSSSS!!... ... . I was a BEAR to get it off,,,But FINALLY got them changed.

Now it"s chargeing REAL WELL,,,,,,,AROUND 14 PLUS !!??,,,,,,

Is this where it belongs??... . As I never REALLY paid much attention to it before the problem??...



THANKS ALLL... ... ... .



Mike In Maine

 

[Neibe]

I got the original batteriees in my truck going on 8 years. I've never had batteries last this long.