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dennishazard
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Sep 22, 2012, 8:31 AM
Post #1 of 11
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electrical problem
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i have a 1998 dodge durango slt with 145,000 miles,my problem is when i have the car on acc. and have the radio on,then try to start my truck,it's very hard to start, also i noticed when i do start it. the gadge for the alt. rises it does very slowly, could my alt. be going out on me ? also when it is running the gadge is riseins above normal range, notr alot but its more then normal. is there a way i can check it ? is it true if you disconnect the pos. cable and the truck shuts down that it is a bad alt.some car stores check them for you,canthey check it without removing it, thanks for you help.Dennis from milwaukee
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 22, 2012, 9:25 AM
Post #2 of 11
(1604 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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Whatever you are doing to listen to the radio quit that habit. Don't ever disconnect a battery when engine is running and when and if you do with engine off it's neg off first back on last. That way you'll live to make another post and not burn up with wrench touching ground from battery directly.
You gauge shows above norms for battery/charging? Not good as if that is putting out too much voltage there's no limit to what can be harmed. Many Mopars the voltage regulator is computer controlled not inside the alternator or external to it.
You can take battery out and get it tested. Full test when charged and load tested. Bet now it's junk. A new one if overcharging would just fail rather quickly if somehow that didn't cure this and doubt it.
It's your vehicle but suggest you get help with this problem as you can replace battery, alternator and just fry them up if the source problem isn't corrected first,
T
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dennishazard
User
Sep 23, 2012, 7:25 AM
Post #3 of 11
(1574 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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ok i would just listen to the radio on acc when my wife would run into the store, but then when i tried to start the truck it would be hard to start, so what are you telling me to do ? do i try a new battery or take the truck in ? when running the gadge is barly above the middle line so its not really overcharging by much, thanks for your help but what should i do ? i appreciate you guys always helping and im thank full for your advice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,thanks .............Dennis fo\rom milwaukee
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 23, 2012, 7:49 AM
Post #4 of 11
(1570 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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Typical Acc for radio is back a turn not enabling engine things but I still don't suggest doing that. Plain radio shouldn't use much - not the point. This overcharging needs to be measured with a voltmeter that it is within bounds.
Would be informative for just crude watch of voltage drop when starter is cranking and operating voltage when running at a slightly raised idle. Dunno what you have to measure volts or how much you want to spend but under $20 bucks should do. Some you can just plug in a power port and read battery voltage - cheap junk but one I have is fairly accurate for a quick check.
If overcharging it has to be corrected. I think it's regulated thru computer on this. A poor battery may be giving the signal to charge it more and faster or erratic connections at battery at the cables and the other ends too. Mopars seem to go funky if they don't get nice steady battery power, volts more than some others and any out of spec needs correcting. You risk burning out alternator and battery both if working too hard.
Right now I don't think this battery can deliver the correct reserve amps. Think of amps as power/volume and voltage as pressure. Enough amps allows the voltage to stay within limits for starting.
Go ahead and do what you have to do to test out that battery,
T
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dennishazard
User
Sep 23, 2012, 8:16 AM
Post #5 of 11
(1565 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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ok ill do that thanks
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dennishazard
User
Sep 24, 2012, 7:41 AM
Post #6 of 11
(1547 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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Damn,went out to start the truck this morning and it fired up just fine untill i took my foot off the gas and it died,kept restarting it just fine .tried to keep it going to warm it up and as soon as i took my foot off the gas it, died,any ideas of what i should look for first,,,,,,,Thanks.............Dennis from milwaukee
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 24, 2012, 9:59 AM
Post #7 of 11
(1533 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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This began with hard starting and voltage issues suspect. Now it starts right up but dies. Did dash voltage gauge at least stay normal? Any check engine lights on while you tried to warm it up?
What have you tested so far? This could be two separate or related. IAC may be dirty, vacuum leaks.
There's nothing to really go on here except it stalls now or is there?
T
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dennishazard
User
Sep 24, 2012, 12:55 PM
Post #8 of 11
(1520 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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i checked the battery, one cell was dry so i put water in it and startedit up it charged up and the gadge went back to normal, so i believe i do have a battery issue, everything is fine now, so thanks for your help and i will get a new battery,,,,,,,,,,,Thanks !
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 24, 2012, 2:03 PM
Post #9 of 11
(1511 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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Yes, new battery in order just because of that finding. Still check out new, charge off car first and cross fingers one thing solves all,
T
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nickwarner
Veteran
/ Moderator
Sep 24, 2012, 6:12 PM
Post #10 of 11
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Re: electrical problem
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Are you saying you pried the SEALED caps from a maintenance free battery and dumped water in them? These aren't the batteries on a Farmall M or what was OEM back in the 60's either. You can expect leakage causing corrosion from that now.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Sep 25, 2012, 12:15 AM
Post #11 of 11
(1486 views)
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Re: electrical problem
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Re-read. "added water" - As Nick just said batteries are sealed except for just a few still out there. Last with caps for three cells at a time really were not meant to remove anyway. If one needed water it probably leaked not the age old venting it out which most do but capture the water.
No matter if you have that you also need to check the whole area with battery out, clean up (baking soda) dry, rustproof, check any and all wiring anywhere near it, hold-down hardware strong and working.
Now - would you like to test a battery and voltage with a $12 buck meter or destroy the whole vehicle? Spring another $25 and get a small automatic charger/maintainer unless you have any more $$ for a faster one to either charge batteries or "float" maintain them.
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Yep - batteries back when and I mean back when came dry and you added electrolyte when you purchased them. Longer than that ago many if you found a bad cell you just took the top off the whole battery and replaced the bad cell not the whole thing. Of course today you can't trust anyone with anything sharper than a crayon so that has been long gone,
T
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