Post by: Seahawk12 on May 26, 2015, 12:10:41 PM
We left in two trucks at 6am Saturday morning. The 3 hour drive went without a hitch. No issues at all. On Sunday morning I got up and decided to run a few miles down the road to a little store and pick up some Gatorade and soda for the days work and after driving a half mile or so the light came on and the indicator started to slowly drop. I turned around and went back to the cabin.
We were 40 miles from the nearest auto parts store which we took my battery and alternator to in order to have have tested. The alternator failed and the battery passed. I bought a new alternator, drove back, put it all back together and it was a no go. Light was still on and the indicator showed it was still losing a charge.
Yesterday I decided to drive it into town and made it 20 miles before the battery had dropped to empty, so I put in a deep cycle boat battery I had with me and that got me to the auto parts store and then the rest of the way home.
Today I did some reading and found the solution.
So, who can guess why my charging system wouldn't work with a good battery and a brand new alternator and with every connection gone through, cleaned up, and treated with dielectric gel?
Post by: Woodchuck on May 26, 2015, 12:12:31 PM
Post by: CP on May 26, 2015, 12:35:44 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 26, 2015, 12:37:38 PM
Generator field not switching in the PCM?
Post by: coachcw on May 26, 2015, 12:41:22 PM
Post by: Seahawk12 on May 26, 2015, 12:50:56 PM
It wasn't the fusable link.
Post by: Russ McDonald on May 26, 2015, 01:04:28 PM
Post by: Seahawk12 on May 26, 2015, 01:11:33 PM
An open circuit protection device?
I believe we have a winner!! An open circuit protection device is a fancy way of saying fuse.
Within the power distribution box in the engine compartment is a 20 amp "Alternator field" fuse.
I've worked on a few charging systems in my life, but I had never had to change that particular fuse. For some reason I had it in my mind that if the fuse had gone then I wouldn't have had the indicator in the console working at all. This morning I decided to take a look just to cover all the bases before going into checking the whole thing with a multi-meter to find a short. Wish I had Woodchuck along with me!
All the stress of making that drive back home on a marine battery and it was a $.50 fix.
Post by: Woodchuck on May 26, 2015, 01:31:06 PM
:IBCOOL: What did I win? :chuckle:An open circuit protection device?
I believe we have a winner!! An open circuit protection device is a fancy way of saying fuse.
Within the power distribution box in the engine compartment is a 20 amp "Alternator field" fuse.
I've worked on a few charging systems in my life, but I had never had to change that particular fuse. For some reason I had it in my mind that if the fuse had gone then I wouldn't have had the indicator in the console working at all. This morning I decided to take a look just to cover all the bases before going into checking the whole thing with a multi-meter to find a short. Wish I had Woodchuck along with me!
All the stress of making that drive back home on a marine battery and it was a $.50 fix.
It is actually more common that a person might guess. There is something to be said for the acronym "KISS" :chuckle:
Post by: Seahawk12 on May 26, 2015, 01:58:22 PM
You win the title of "Better Mechanic Than Seahawk12"! :tup::IBCOOL: What did I win? :chuckle:An open circuit protection device?
I believe we have a winner!! An open circuit protection device is a fancy way of saying fuse.
Within the power distribution box in the engine compartment is a 20 amp "Alternator field" fuse.
I've worked on a few charging systems in my life, but I had never had to change that particular fuse. For some reason I had it in my mind that if the fuse had gone then I wouldn't have had the indicator in the console working at all. This morning I decided to take a look just to cover all the bases before going into checking the whole thing with a multi-meter to find a short. Wish I had Woodchuck along with me!
All the stress of making that drive back home on a marine battery and it was a $.50 fix.
It is actually more common that a person might guess. There is something to be said for the acronym "KISS" :chuckle:
For whatever that's worth. :chuckle:
Although, to be fair I had the guys at both O'Reillys and Auto Zone perplexed.
Post by: Woodchuck on May 26, 2015, 02:01:53 PM
Post by: jackelope on May 26, 2015, 02:17:46 PM
:IBCOOL: :IBCOOL: Woo hoo, I done hit the bigtime. :chuckle:
Jimmy Bigtime.
:tup:
Post by: GrainfedMuley on May 27, 2015, 07:59:46 AM
Post by: Odell on July 14, 2017, 10:37:31 AM
Hightailing it back to the shop to check that fuse.
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Post by: Odell on July 14, 2017, 11:24:40 AM
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Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 14, 2017, 10:10:23 PM