RE: Alternator issue?

From: Bernd D. Ratsch (bernd@dodgetrucks.org)
Date: Wed Sep 26 2007 - 13:09:08 EDT


With the engine running...what is the actual voltage at the battery? Check
your power and ground circuits on the back of the alternator...if you have
12v and low resistance on the ground side...bad alternator. If you don't
have a 12v reference on the back of the alternator - bad PCM (voltage
regulator is built into the PCM). You can also try just disconnecting the
NEG terminal on the battery while running - alternator should keep the
vehicle running...if it doesn't, bad alternator or refer to the supply line
checks.

- Bernd

-----Original Message-----
From: Phillip Batson [mailto:pbatson68@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 11:51 AM
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Subject: DML: Alternator issue?

How would I go about testing the alternator? I'm not sure if it is the
battery, or if the alternator isn't charging the battery. I originally
thought it was the battery, but now i'm not so sure. The volt meter in the
truck goes up pretty slow after startup. I was using a Optima red top
battery, and I know it isn't more than a couple years old. I'm searching for
my receipt cause I know I got a pro-rated 84 months on that thing. I threw a
yellow top I had laying around in it in the mean time. Seemed to work great
at first, now the battery gauge is doing the slow crawl up to 14v again. I
have a multimeter so I can test stuff, even have the kind that goes around a
wire to tell me voltage/amps.

Thanks guys!!

Phil



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