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charging problem 98 dodge ram


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skydver
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skydver profile image

Oct 15, 2013, 6:16 AM

Post #1 of 11 (3188 views)
charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

got a 1998 ram quad cab. 5.9 "Z" code on vin. alternator is charging weakly. when I turn on lights and a/c I get a check gauges light and the charge shows the bottom acceptable line. when I turn off the lights and a/c the light goes out and the gauge climbs about a needle width above the minimum line.I can turn on lights or a/c with no problems, it only happens with both,(compressor running only). alternator has 256000 miles give or take. It was working fine until I changed a heater hose and had to remove it to get to the hose clamp. when I reinstalled it and drove truck I noticed it. The battery was replaced less than 100 miles ago. what is the "box" mounted to the back of the alternator? I had to remove it from the alternator to remove alternator as it was in the wiring harness but it was installed exactly like it came off as it only goes on 1 way. I have checked all connections especially ground connections and they have been found to be tight and corrosion free. Help What did I do wrong, or what is now dead?


Hammer Time
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Oct 15, 2013, 6:26 AM

Post #2 of 11 (3180 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

You need to be careful here and you probably should have some testing done by an experienced auto electric shop because the voltage regulator for this vehicle is built into the PCM and that has to be tested.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



skydver
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Oct 15, 2013, 6:53 AM

Post #3 of 11 (3172 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

so take it to a dealer or is advanced auto good enough. will it show up on the computer codes? I am not aware of an electrical shop in my area that works on auto electricial systems. options are limited here


Hammer Time
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Oct 15, 2013, 8:06 AM

Post #4 of 11 (3168 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

Advanced Auto???????????

You gotta be kidding. They are a parts store staffed with part time wanna be mechanics. You need real advanced electrical diagnostics. If you don't have a shop that specializes in electrical diagnostics, then the dealer is your only other alternative



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Oct 15, 2013, 12:31 PM

Post #5 of 11 (3160 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

Any reputable auto repair shop that does drive-ability and electrical should be able to figure that one out.

256000 miles on the alternator. Wow. Wonder if there are any brushes left?





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skydver
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Oct 16, 2013, 6:22 AM

Post #6 of 11 (3132 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

 
well today I am a VERY happy dodge truck owner. Found the problem.......drum roll.........It was the 140amp fusable link. $3.99 at advance auto. (advance didnt find problem, my company's avionics tech figured it out for me) Had power out of alternator (28vdc) and at battery it showed only the deminishing battery voltage. found blown fuse. all fixed and looking for another 100000 miles.... Cool Thanks for all the help.


(This post was edited by skydver on Oct 16, 2013, 6:26 AM)


Hammer Time
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Oct 16, 2013, 6:28 AM

Post #7 of 11 (3127 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

That makes me wonder what blew that fuse in the first place.............



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Oct 16, 2013, 7:36 AM

Post #8 of 11 (3124 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

Probably crossed the jumper cables or didn't disconnect the battery when the alternator was removed.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 16, 2013, 7:38 AM)


Hammer Time
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Oct 16, 2013, 8:06 AM

Post #9 of 11 (3120 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

Must have been some fireworks when it blew.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
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Oct 16, 2013, 9:33 AM

Post #10 of 11 (3118 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In

Nothing but a 140 amp arc welder couldn't put out...LOL





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Oct 16, 2013, 9:35 AM)


skydver
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Oct 17, 2013, 6:05 AM

Post #11 of 11 (3099 views)
Re: charging problem 98 dodge ram Sign In


In Reply To
That makes me wonder what blew that fuse in the first place.............


me too.






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