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mark71j
Dodge Dakota
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9/02/2003
15:07:44
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 Subject: Low voltage
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Message:
Hey, 98 Dakota 5.2L. My voltmeter shows 12V with the battery fully charged and it drops as the battery runs down. The charging system is not recharging the battery (which does hold a charge). How can I tell where the problem is - alternator or regulator (which I believe is fully integrated into the pcm)?
Thanks!
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Rob454
Dodge Dakota
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9/02/2003
22:58:17
|  RE: Low voltage
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Message:
Does the voltage rise as you rev the motor in park? If so then the alternator is not charging at idle. you can either replace it or change to a smaller pulley to make it turn faster. if it wont charge as the RPM increases you have a bad alternator. As far as I know todays alternators are all internally regulated for newer cars.
Rob
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mark71j
Dodge Dakota
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9/03/2003
02:22:23
| RE: Low voltage
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Thanks for your reply!
No the voltage doesn't move up with the rpm so I picked up an alternator rebuild kit and changed the brushes plus the rectifier ... no dice. Voltage is still around 12V with engine off or on. Am I crazy or shouldn't the voltage be around 14 to 15 with the engine running?
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02Sport+
Dodge Dakota
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9/04/2003
00:44:55
| RE: Low voltage
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Message:
Yes, your voltage should be around 14 volts. Have to put more across the terminals than you take out to fully charge it. Did you mean that you replaced the regulator, not the rectifier? Rectifier changes AC to DC, regulator controls the amount of voltage out of the alternator. If you have a battery with some bad cells, it could also be loading down the charging system. Have your battery tested at a parts store to eliminate it as a possible source of trouble.
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mark71j
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2003
17:55:12
|  RE: Low voltage
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Message:
Doh! Battery's fine. I only messed with the recifier because the kid at the parts store said my alternator was shot. My first step was to check the fusebox but upon a sober/desperate second look I discovered that the 140-Amp alternator fuse was blown. A very hard part to find btw. That was why the charge was not getting to the battery. My Chilton shop manual's only advice was consult a Licenced Shop!
Thanks for your help guys! Silly of me to overlook this!
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ticats
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2003
18:57:21
| RE: Low voltage
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Message:
mark71j ... where is that fuse located? TIA.
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mark71j
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2003
19:46:56
|  RE: Low voltage
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Just to the right of the battery as you look into the engine bay is the box. The alternator fuse is the one furthest left it's obviously the alternator one because it bridges a cable that connects immediately to the positive terminal on your battery. The fuse itself looks like a Lego Block with a clear top.
These fuses are the engine bay fuses while the panel on the left side of the dashboard are more for the cab circuits.
Another clue I over looked was that I never got a "Check Engine" warning on the dash only a "Check Gauges" light when the voltage dropped to below 10
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