Battery Gauge Issues

[nfroio]

Hi all,

I have a question, that I hope someone here has previously experienced, my battery charge dash gauge indicator has been raising itself into the 18 (Red Level) indicator section whenever I am driving on the freeway, eg., above 70MPH, does this indicate that the battery is having problems, or the Alternator, or both?? When I return to street speeds, 25 – 30MPH, the gauges go back into the normal range.

I am fairly sure that the battery is not gonna up and stop on me whilst driving, but would still like to know if this is something that I should take care of immediately, or is it something that can wait?? After driving a long distance, the startup is hesitant, but will start, which leads to me think that it may also be a starter problem….

Confused, and mildly concerned, but basically broke from the work done thus far… any advice, suggestion would be greatfully accepted…

Thanks,



------------------
nfroio
'87 Grand Wagoneer - White w/ wood
AMC 360
Flowmaster 2.5"
Tinted Rear Windows
Future upgrades: New Intake Manifold, New Carb, and what ever else the wife will let me do it... :)_
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn87wagoneer2.jpg
my old '85 Wag, miss that truck.. (blown engine)
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn67CamaroRSSS.jpg
(1967 Camaro RS/SS 350/TH350 - crashed to bits, sad)

[Iron Horse]

Sounds like the alternator to me. I'd pull it and get it checked at a parts store, probably the internal voltage regulator is going.

------------------
Andy

Iron Horse: 1988 GW 360/TF727/NP229/D44's F/R, 31x10.5 BFG AT's stuffed in stock wheel wells, and no WOOD.
soon to have:
BDS 4" lift, 3" body lift, 33"-35" BFG MT's, complete repaint and body work

[Wag-OH-neer]

I woild take it to any big chain auto parts store they usually have testers that will tell you what is wrong and its usually free too.

------------------
Wag-OH-neer
1982 Wagoneer 4" suspension lift, 3" body lift, 360V8, 727, AMC20-4.11's and Detroit locker, Dana44-4.11's Detroit Truetrac, 33" rubber, pretty much everything.
"when in doubt, it's the pedal on the right"

[SpruceMoose]

you might want to put a digital volt meter on the battery to see if it agrees with the dash gage.

[ironroad29]

wouldn't that be hard at 70+mph?
lol

------------------
"If a jeep can't take you there, maybe you should think twice about going" visit the C.O.R.E. homepage

[nfroio]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the input, I talked to the shop that I had the previous work done at, and they said they would take a look at it. They are thinking that the battery is overcharging, and suggested that I inspect the battery to see if its swollen.. yipes! wouldn't that bite to have your battery explode en route somewhere...

I am gonna drop it off with them on Monday, and I will let y'all know whats what... hopefully, its just a faulty gauge..



------------------
nfroio
'87 Grand Wagoneer - White w/ wood
AMC 360
Flowmaster 2.5"
Tinted Rear Windows
Future upgrades: New Intake Manifold, New Carb, and what ever else the wife will let me do it... :)_
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn87wagoneer2.jpg
my old '85 Wag, miss that truck.. (blown engine)
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn67CamaroRSSS.jpg
(1967 Camaro RS/SS 350/TH350 - crashed to bits, sad)

[nfroio]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ironroad29:
wouldn't that be hard at 70+mph?
lol

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Didn't see that when i posted, good one ironroad.. hahahah



------------------
nfroio
'87 Grand Wagoneer - White w/ wood
AMC 360
Flowmaster 2.5"
Tinted Rear Windows
Future upgrades: New Intake Manifold, New Carb, and what ever else the wife will let me do it... :)_
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn87wagoneer2.jpg
my old '85 Wag, miss that truck.. (blown engine)
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn67CamaroRSSS.jpg
(1967 Camaro RS/SS 350/TH350 - crashed to bits, sad)

[BIGYELLOW78J10]

As a side note, I was reading my owners manual(yes, I am a dork) and it mentions that when starting a hot vehicle, it will be necessary to depress the gas partially til it starts as the hot starter/engine needs a little motivation to get moving. I had decided my starter was bad, but now a little gas and the right touch to the key gets me going no problem.

I am no electronics genious, but a defective voltage regulator would allow overcharging of the battery like Iron Horse said? I don't know if yours is internal to the alternator or not. But check and the shops that check your battery will often check your alternator, if you pull it. Hope it helps.


Daniel

------------------
78 J-10 Rumblin Wreck (http://www.prism.gatech.edu/~gte644i/TRUCK.jpg)
2v 360 V-8
Stock down to the rust
Highway speed in about an Hour

[SpruceMoose]

well, i kinda figgerd that the wife/girlfriend could hold on pretty good. or a chunk of 12ga wire run back to the cab. either way. http://www.ifsja.org/ubb/wink.gif

[nfroio]

12 ga. wire to a volt reader, check.
Wife holding on for life, if wire not avail, check. &lt;grin&gt;

will try the partial gas pedal depressing trick with hot starts, see if that helps that hot starting any, thank you for that suggestion, I still only have manual for my '85, and dont tend to trust it for my current '87 wag...

I will also be sure to ask the shop to check the voltage regulator..

thanks... all replies greatly appreciated... not the greatest mechanic in the world, heck, probably one of the worst, ahhahaa

------------------
nfroio
'87 Grand Wagoneer - White w/ wood
AMC 360
Flowmaster 2.5"
Tinted Rear Windows
Future upgrades: New Intake Manifold, New Carb, and what ever else the wife will let me do it... :)_
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn87wagoneer2.jpg
my old '85 Wag, miss that truck.. (blown engine)
http://www.geocities.com/nfroio/tn67CamaroRSSS.jpg
(1967 Camaro RS/SS 350/TH350 - crashed to bits, sad)

[ironroad29]

hope everyone liked that wasn't tring to p anyone off just thought that would be a good one .

------------------
"If a jeep can't take you there, maybe you should think twice about going" visit the C.O.R.E. homepage

[SpruceMoose]

ir29: not a problem. in fact, it made a funny mental image after i thought about it (the wife/gf thing)

sm

[BobBarry]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nfroio:
Didn't see that when i posted, good one ironroad.. hahahah<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It's not as silly as it sounds; they have the digital voltmeter that plugs into the cigar lighter, which you can glance at while driving.

------------------
Bob Barry<UL TYPE=SQUARE>* '78 Cherokee 4-door
* '88 Grand Wagoneer[/list]http://studentweb.providence.edu/~rbarry/wheels/

[jeepbob]

90% of the hard starting on FSJ is prolly due to a stretched timing chain. The poor ford starters can not take the load when the timing has been advanced to make up for the poor performance caused by the streched chain.