Mis Reading Amp Gauge

[BKasler]

Hi all,

I've been receiving TDR mag for a couple years, but never took time to check out the website. Hope someone here can help me with a slight problem with my 05 3500 DRW. It has 180,000 miles and I've owned it since 60,000 miles. Over the last year I've noticed the amp gauge on the dash progressively moving towards the overcharging side. Last night on the way home from work I noticed it had moved into the red area on the overcharging side so I stopped at Auto Zone and they tested the charging system and said it was consistently putting out 14.2 volts which was where they said was perfect. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is it a faulty gauge or sensor or maybe something else. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Prairie Dog]

You don't have an amp gauge - it's a volt meter.
14.2 volts is fine and if the meter in the dash says something different it isn't too big a deal. The truck will be fine.
It could be the ECM or the cluster itself.
It's a bit of a stretch but you might disconnect the batteries for 30 minutes or so and see if that resets the ECM.

Good luck,
Scott

 

[BKasler]

Thank you Prairie Dog. My bad on the "Amp gauge" term. I've always called it that even though I knew it was a volt meter. Don't know why. I'll try the reset and let you know what happens.

 

[lpennock]

Check for voltage drop through your cross over cable and for dirty ground connections. Either can mess up the computer readings.

 

[AH64ID]

14.2 seems low for winter readings, so I agree with lpennock and woukd check your crossover cable and connections.

FWIW I havent seen the ECM command a charge voltage as low as 14.2, and with the below freezing weather we have right now the desired charge voltage is around 15.