2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission wierdest thing just happened

[jzaremski]

I'm driving along earlier this evening, when I see a flash of red on my cluster along with the warnign chime. "Check Gages". Okay, well... EEK! Voltmeter dropped like a rock to the 8V line odd thing was that my lights were working normally and there was no dimming when the compressor kicked on (had defrost going). pulled over, shut down, and restarted, and the meter stayed around what looks like about 11 volts, then a minute later goes back up to 14. Dad (who's worked on Chrysler cars for years) thinks it's the voltmeter itself going loopy, and I'm inclined to agree. Anyone had anything similar happen?

 

[RHARVEY]

Mine acts something like that in the mornings when the heat grid cycles. I have seen the gauge drop down to about 8 for a little bit and then go back to normal. Then it will drop to 11 then back to 14. . the goes on for a few minutes. . then its 14 and stays there. .



Rick

 

[BarryG]

Same thing happened to me. Was driving home got po'd on the way wondering what it could be. Got home, shut down, restarted all was well. Hasn't happened since and that was 20k ago.

 

[MCummings]

Mine dips when the Grid heaters ae working (normal).



But my Dad's Chevy/Duramax will always show on the high side of 14V's and every now and then, usually when just idling, or taking off from idling a while the Voltmeter will got to what looks to be 17V's for about 5 minutes, then to 13V's then calms down and goes to 14V's again. Go figure.



Merrick Cummings Jr

 

[46mech]

Out of curiosity, was it a cooler evening than usual?



I had the same thing happen to me back in late '99 and hasn't happened since. I lived in the Mojave Desert then and this happened to me after I left a High School football game one night when the temp was about 40 deg. The truck started up normal, but as soon as I got out on the road the voltmeter needle dropped and the check guages light came on. I wasn't sure what was going on so I pulled over, shut it down and popped the hood to see if anything was going on with the alternator. Not seeing or smelling anything I fired back up and everything was back to normal. Like I said, hasn't happened since.

 

[jzaremski]

nah, it was about 40 degrees, typical for this time of year (in Michigan). It was raining lightly, though.

 

[Bhooper]

owners manual

My owners manual says this occurs for three minutes after starting up in temperatures below 66 degrees to cycle the heater grid. First time I noticed it was on a trip and I thought for sure I had some kind of short. However my check gauges didnt come on, some times that comes on if there is a few seconds delay on my oil pressure gauge after starting.

 

[jzaremski]

I'm well aware of the heater grid cycling. The problem was that the engine was at operating temp and had been for at least 20 minutes. And at least on my truck, the voltmeter goes down to a point almost exactly between the 8 and 14 when the grid is powered. When this happened, the meter just plain dropped down to 8 and didn't come back up until I cycled the key.

 

[dcava]

Voltage

Back in Nov. of 99 I was cruising down I-95 in southern NC. close to Fayetteville, when the chime thing jars me to attention. Long story short, the voltage regulator (guess where that's located) went crazy an fried the alternator. Yeah, the alt. protector relay failed. New chassis computer,new relay,new alt. Emergency lodging and meals all paid under warranty. Imagine that. :--)

Glad it was under warranty. Stealer said it would have cost $1,500