01 Durango charging system

[eldubb440]

my Durango pinned the volt meter...... I assume that's what it is; pic of a battery with an operating range, L, and H

I noticed the high beam light in the dash flickering a bit........ then I watched the volt meter pin to the high side, it took 10-15 seconds to get there

so I pull over, kill everything, and shut it down

popped the hood, looked at the belt, looked over all major connections, and fired it back up...... drove about 10 miles home, everything was normal

thoughts?

 

[Don Frelier]

Sure it wasn't your Clausometer?

 

[eldubb440]

I'm sure.......these alternators are internally regulated, no?

it's the original, new alternator in my future?

that would be fine, just don't need to be chasing any gremlins

 

[RemCharger]

The alt is most likely.
I would test the battery first, to make sure it's not on its way out.
Terminals need to be fresh and cleaned.

 

[eldubb440]

The alt is most likely.
I would test the battery first, to make sure it's not on its way out.
Terminals need to be fresh and cleaned.

terminals are clean...... I'm all over that sort of stuff

battery could be on it's way out, it's old and over due......... but has plenty of crank in it, kinda like the wife

 

[RemCharger]

. but has plenty of crank in it, kinda like the wife

That's the part that can be deceiving.
Kinda like a mint looking quarter, that actually is nothing more than sprayfoam and fibreglass

 

[RemCharger]

But that wasn't directed at the wife

 

[eldubb440]

I am due for a new battery, no avoiding that........ Merry Christmas to me?

 

[moparwacko]

Maybe you can stop at Advance Auto and have a "specialist" look at it.









They can even install the new battery for ya. Aaannndddd get a new set of ultra Mud & Snow winter wiper blades, installed by the same specialist.
Merry Christmas

 

[JDmac72chrgr]

Stick with NAPA!!! Most batteries are Johnson Controls just named different at different places. If 4 yrs old, YUP, do for change

 

[RemCharger]

I am due for a new battery, no avoiding that........ Merry Christmas to me?

Not sure how cold you guys get to, but up here, damn rights a fresh battery in the winter is merry Christmas lol

 

[wish4hemi]

These alternators are NOT internally regulated. The PCM on the firewall controls voltage regulation. If you don’t have a faulty alternator, the PCM could be the problem. There’s a better temperature sensor involved as well.

 

[eldubb440]

These alternators are NOT internally regulated. The PCM on the firewall controls voltage regulation. If you don’t have a faulty alternator, the PCM could be the problem. There’s a better temperature sensor involved as well.

that's what I was afraid of.....

 

[wish4hemi]

that's what I was afraid of.....

Not that big of a deal. Auto Computer Specialist could likely fix it for a couple hundred dollars if it is the problem. Just rule everything else out first.

 

[1STMP]

If the PCM is on it's way out,
a telltale sign is a prolonged
crank at start up. Kinda hard
to explain. Startup just won't
be as instantaneous as a
properly functioning system.
If it was the battery, your ten
mile drive after failure would
have shown it to be the
problem after everything
seemed to return to normal.
I've had a PCM fail and it
acted exactly as you
describe.