Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Votmeter erratic.

[DavidGardner]

When I start my trk the voltmeter reads below 14 volts and I know it is supposed to until the battery gets some juice in it to make up for the heating cycle on the intake heater. It is now going way down to the bottom of the mark for a while and then comes back up then while driving cycles back and forth. Even if the trk is driven several miles and the engine is totaly warmed up it still does it at each start. Any suggestions on what top look for.

T. I. A.



Dave G.

 

[Bob Wagner]

Hi David, How old are the batteries?

 

[HEMI®Dart]

David,



I think I know what you are taking about. Even with the truck fully warmed up, you shut it down then re-start it within a few minutes, the grid heater cycles again.



This is what I think is happening.



We are driving in Cool/Cold wintertime air. The intake air system (Intercooler, intake horn ,intake manifold) are now cold from the ambient air temp. The Intake Air Temperature Sensor reads the temp as below 59° ( the highest temp that cycles the grid heaters). So the PCM thinks the engine is cold so it cycles the grid heater.



If you wait 20-30 Min's for the hot engine to warm up the intake manifold (home of the intake air temp sensor) then the grid heaters won't need to light.



I believe this is normal.





My 2 cents.

 

[DavidGardner]

The batterys are at least 2 yrs old, probabgly more. This is not my trk. it belongs to a friend of mine and is a 96. The batterys will be checked asap. I will let you know as soon as I find out what the results are.

Dave G.