Power Drain!?!

Riddle

Riddle

Armed Infidel
Joined
May 12, 2009
Location
Walnut Cove, NC 27052
I have a 1988 Jeep Grand Wagoneer. I just replaced the Alternator, Battery, and ground cable. As I'm driving down the road the meter doesn't go above 10 and when I turn on the lights they get dim and the heater drains it as I'm driving as well. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :beer:
 
Positive battery terminal? Weak fusible link? Have you got 12v at the battery? What are you reading at the terminals when it's running? Is it a bad alternator out of the box? Try charging the battery and seeing if the meter shows it. That power has to be going somewhere.
 
Im pretty sure the alternator is good because it wasnt charging at all before i changed it, now its making an effort. And the positive and negative terminals are new.
 
It's probably a bad alternator. The reman one's you get from the parts stores are shit. I went through 3 on my yota before giving up and having a custom GM 1 wire built.
 
I keep hearing about the GM 1 wire setup, how do I do that?
 
Well, on a Toyota you have to cut the case a bit and buy or build a bracket for belt adjustment, Not too sure on a Jeep though. If I'm not mistaken though, isn't the voltage regulator in the engine controller? Maybe that's your problem.
 
The voltage regulator is in the alternator i believe
 
I'm not sure if this year pertains to it but I do know that some late model molars have the voltage reg as a part of the ecu. My guess is a bad alt. if you have a volt meter you'd be anle to find out. Running should be right around 13.5-14.2ish. Don't go by the gauge on the dash.
 
Just replacing the terminals may not do it. My bet is rotten battery cables. Corroded cables will not carry the voltage. You could test voltage on the alternator and then on battery to see.
 
I replaced all the ground cables, but i'll change out the positive and see what happens. keep the ideas comin. thanks
 
You can get a cheap volt meter from Harbor Freight for like $3 or something. Check to see the voltage with the engine running. I had a buddy that had to replace his ECM twice for bad voltage regulators. Don't remember the year of the Jeep but it was a Wrangler with round headlights and a 4.0 so probably more recent than yours.
 
With the engine running, touch a steel screwdriver to the positive stud on the alternator, if it is magnetized, it's working.
 
It works.
 
Bite it back.
 
In "vehicle acquisition" or how to steal a vehicle, we taught the Marines this quick test.
 
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