Overcharging.

[Jones]

Anybody got any tips on a persistant overcharging problem? I've cleaned and checked connections, replaced both alt and voltage reg twice, replaced battery and still this thing overcharges to the point of boiling the water out of the battery. I think Dodge put out a solid state reg a while back with an external adjusting screw and locknut sticking out of the face. I'm to the point of looking for one of them but the hot set-up would be to find the problem and fix it at the source. Whatever it is was a problem in the truck the engine was previously in ('89 1 ton P. U. ) so by now the problem is thoroughly annoying. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Jones

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Jones
'84 Ramcharger w/CTD, non-gated 12, torqflite, NP205, Dana 60 and 70 w/ 3. 07s. Looks more or less stock, definately doesn't sound stock.

 

[dpuckett]

Jones,

IS your speedo acting up as well? I had a similar problem in my 92 & 93. Going from the negative battery post is a 14 or so guage wire going to the radiator frame/ support thingie in front of it. (Real technical term, but it is right above the headlight) THere is a screw holding it down, and two wires coming out of it. when the screw comes loose, it wreaks havoc with your charging system. If that is it, you may have to get a bigger screw. I didnt trace it, but it is a bit of a pain. Beyond that, I have no clue, but it is worth a shot.

Daniel Puckett

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Daniel's current truck: 1993 W350 club cab, 5 speed, treadplate aluminum flatbed, 4. 10 rear end, straight pipes, K&N, "slightly" tweaked pump. ISSPRO color coded pyrometer and 50psi boost guage. NRA Life Member (since age 12) and d@mned proud of it. IRBCTS.

 

[Bill Stockard]

Jones,

As Daniel says make sure you have a good ground from the alternator to the battery.

Also if your voltage regulator is located above the engine exhaust manifold on the firewall like the early Dodge/Cummins trucks, replace it again and move it to the fender well. The firewall location was OK for a gas engine but wreaks havoc on a diesel since it's just above the exhaust manifold and gets pretty hot after the engine is shut down. That was a real problem on some of the early Dodge/Cummins trucks before the '92 PCM module controlled alternators.

Bill