Voltage Regulator

[Tumbler]

The reading I get from the voltmeter is the same as the battery which discharges over use, mainly through starting.



This sounds bad but to conserve energy until I can fix the problem, I don't roll the windows down. Instead, I use the vents infront the window for fresh air. The AC is out (recently went out, possibly related to the battery charge issue). I don't listen to the radio. Luckily I don't have to drive the truck at night much. I've charged the battery twice since the problem started.

 

[Tumbler]

Follow-up

As a follow-up and recap... The battery was tested at Sears and checked out good. The alternator checked out good at Napa.



Noticed that the truck would charge now and then so all critical components had the ability to function. Noticed that when my battery was fully charged, that the truck would then charge. When the battery power drops below a certain point the system will no longer charge effectively. It doesn't make sense but it is what has been happening. After noticing the pattern I haven't had problems since. I'm cautious to not over consume energy, and the truck continues to charge.



The truck is not stock and there are a ton of wires coming off the battery. Two of them fed the air suspension... which I have disconnected because I don't need the air suspension and it pulling a continuous trickle of charge from the battery. Dunno the purpose of all the other wires. I've seen a stock 91 ram 250 diesel and the wiring looked much cleaner than my truck.



Getting back to the "battery low = system doesn't charge, battery full = system charges" issue. Is it possible that wiring somewhere has been switched and could be fixed to return to a "battery low = system charge, battery full = system don't charge".



Also, the owner of the 91 tested my truck while it was running and bypassed all electrical, shot a charge from the battery to the alternator and the system would still not charge. The battery had enough charge to start the engine.



Any ideas?

 

[HRDROKN]

Thinking out loud here......

I have traced my charging problem to a failing wire going to my crank position sensor..... so I wonder if the CPS relies on 12v to operate and if voltage is down the CPS stops working or becomes weak?