z1bigtom

Noticed yesturday that when i started my truck, the needle in the Alt gaguge never went to 14 then droped a little went a little up droped agian then went to 14.

Today same thing except kinda hung i'd say around 7 v then went to 14.

I turned blower on high and it didnt make the needle move in either direction. Finally stayed at 14 and this is in all of about 6-8 seconds...

Is my Alt on its way out?

Possibley a bad battery?

MnTom

I don't think there is a problem with your alternator. It sounds more like the grid heater is cycling like it should. Has the temp dropped some? If the IAT senses the temp is approx 59* or less it will cycle the heaters.
Tom

z1bigtom

Droped into the low 50's last 2 nights..........Ahhhhhhhh ok so what i'm seeing is normal then?

First time with a diesel and my first winter season ...

phox_mulder

And it's started.


phox

(inside joke for the ones who've been around the site for a while )

z1bigtom

Well be easy on me.........

Just spent 1800.00 on a VP44 not really lookin to drop more coin....

I usally use the search but got ahead and just posted....

Wont happen agian ...( Sir )

LOL

phox_mulder

Every year, at about this time (give or take a couple weeks)
we get inundated with "cold weather operation" questions.

These include:

Plugging in.
Wait to start.
Dimming lights.
Air conditioner cycleing on Defrost.
White smoke at startup.
Cold Weather Fronts.
and wipers suck at removing snow/ice.

We were all new diesel owners at one time,
so we've all asked the same questions you and others like you are about to ask.

I say, bring 'em on.


phox

z1bigtom

How do those Extend flares cover your 35's........I need to do soon...Fuzz all over me.........**** 16x10's.......LOL

phox_mulder

The do a pretty good job.
Almost all the tire is covered, maybe 1/2" still sticking out.

They are over a foot and a half above the tire though, but covered is covered I guess.




phox

Geico266

How old are your batteries? The heat grid cycling is fairly hard on standard batteries so I suggest gel cell batteries when these die. Also, I plug the engine into 110v below 30F to help with cold weather starts, and I use my remote starter to warm up the engine before I head down the road.