Archived Stranded in St Charles, Ill ...... alternator???

[JHardwick]

I got the check engine light and zero voltage at about 3AM and stopped at the Hindsdale service area till sun-up. Thanks to my GPS I found a NAPA in Schaumberg, but he said the number for that part was brand new and the closest one was in Kentucky :{



I boarded my horses at a place here in St Charles and got a room right next to the Dodge dealer here in St Charles as well.



Here is what doesn't make any sense. I have been driving this truck since sun-up with all accessories shut off. I've started it probably 30 times looking for parts, a boarding facility and a room close to a dealer. When I start it, the volt meter only goes to ~ 10-12 volts and after a few minutes drops to the peg and the CEL comes on. It usually sits just over 14v. Problem is, these dummy gages don't tell the whole story and I'm concerned that it's not the alternator at all



Do any of you have 1st hand experience with an '03-'05 alternator failure? I don't have time to schedule service and all that. I have some basic tools and I'm sure I can change in 1/2hr or so, but is it the alternator? Hate to buy a $200. 00 for nuttin :{ :{

 

[Missouri Mule]

If it is set up like second generations you should have a battery tempature sensor under driver's side battery tray. Check for dirty /lose connections or broken wire. Dodge should be able to check the sensor out.

If this sensor isn't sending signals to the PCM the alternator won't put out a charge.

 

[p-Bar]

and you can pull off the alternator take it to Kragen or what ever you back there and they can spin it up and check it out. Buy a cheap meter to check your voltage.

 

[Joe Mc]

Not sure if applies to 03 but, with my 99 the parts house has to read with it on the truck - save a few minutes that it takes to remove it and go to the parts house first. Most of the big name houses will lend you tools if you have to take it off for testing and/or once they've determined it's the alternator so you can change it. An old way to tell if it's the alternator is - with the truck running disconnect both + terminals on the battery, if it stalls then you've narrowed it down to the alternator/regulator. Once again - not sure if this will be accurate for the truck - but, it's a simple test that will either reveal or not the culpret. Either way I'd get it to a parts house vs the dealer unless they (dealer) will cover under warranty.
Best
regards.

 

[JHardwick]

I'm not under warranty, but NAPA didn't even have the connectors/code to spin the dern thing, and can't get one any earlier than Tues ... ... ..... thats next day air! AutoZone had less information than that. I have tools to remove the alternator, but didn't even think of removing the battery connectors ... ... ... ... ... guess I can't even tell you the last time I had an alternator go bad.



I'll run down and check it now.

 

[JHardwick]

Ayup! Removing negative terminals kills it instantly. Connections look good at the temp sensor. I guess the fake gage showing 12v before it crapped out, and all the electronics, got be bedazzled, back to basics ... ... ... ..... ideally, I can walk in to the dealer, walk out and have it up an running before 8-8:30AM tomorrow.

 

[p-Bar]

Joe Mc you are right , guess I was thinking back in time when things were simpler. The ECM regulates the voltage.

 

[FourBarR]

maynot help you now but I carry a small battery alternator checker that plugs into the lighter socket. shows voltage output and good or bad. hope it helps .

 

[p-Bar]

My Escort radar detector has batt voltage on it .

 

[Joe Mc]

J, that walk to the dealer is going to be an expensive one. Isn't there another parts house local that might have one, you might be able to locate one on-line ? Unless at this point $ is not an issue as you just need to get back on the road? Good luck to you.

 

[JHardwick]

J, that walk to the dealer is going to be an expensive one. Isn't there another parts house local that might have one, you might be able to locate one on-line ? Unless at this point $ is not an issue as you just need to get back on the road? Good luck to you.

Doesn't appear that the aftermarket alternators are readily available yet. NAPA said the part number was just listed. Besides I have 9 contracts with me to have executed by next week. Two of those people are meeting me at the Detroit/Windsor border with horses I'll be bringing out of ND.



-Jeff

http://www.purepleasurehorsefarm.com/transstaff_jeff.htm

 

[JHardwick]

Gonna make this quick, need to get a shower and get checked out.



Dodge didn't have an alternator either, and before I ordered one, I wanted a scan ... ... ... ... ... ... $98. 00 :-{}



One of the techs followed me outside with a scanner and scanned it in the parking lot. He said it was most likely a battery(or both), he said his guess was the drivers side battery ... ... ... ..... I slipped him a $20.



He said in a redundant system, like having two batteries, the charging system woul;d shut down if one battery or the other went bad



I went to AutoZone and replaced the driver side battery ... ... ... ... ... ... . same problem. I'm gonna get a shower and get checked out, and go buy another battery. I won't have internet access again, unless I have to get another room, or I get on the road and hit a FlyinJ.



I'll keep y'all posted on this deal, especially 3rd genners, this is a kinda screwy deal.

 

[Todd T]

If you can make it downstate to around the 39 mile marker on 55 you can swing by my place. I can loan you tools and lend you my truck for chasing parts. I can put your horses out on the pasture and we have plenty of room. I was listed in the TDR contacts thingy but not sure if its still there or not. our address is 8876 Miles Station Rd in Bunker Hill. take 16 and head west through gillespie and turn right at Miles Station. Two miles on the right.



Home number is 618-278-4714 cell is 618-795-0133



Name is Todd

 

[JHardwick]

I'm rollin!!! Sittin in the FlyinJ in S. Beloit, Ill, ready to cross into Wi!!!!!

A special thanks to Todd_T for his generous offer above and to Not_Agn who privated me and said I could buy, use or whatever his alternator since his truck was down!!



After buying another battery and reordering the alternator, I got it running around 3:30pm this afternoon. They had a parts guy coming from the parts house and caught him just in time to get it there between 2-3pm. The tech who scanned it for me this afternoon stood there and shot the **** with me while I changed the dern thing ... ... ..... said they was slow!! Can't see that with a $98. 00/hr shop rate



$150 in batteries, $250 for the alternator, $75 for the room and I'm off and runnin!! Thanx guys this a cool website!!!

 

[Not_Agn]

Good to see you got back on the road. Been stuck on the road too! Not for work, but either way it sucks! Lee.

 

[p-Bar]

This was a good education for all of us.