Hey guys anyone have their alt over charge?
My gauge has always run just over the 14v mark but today after installing my new Smarty I noticed it was charging well above the normal mark?
I unloaded the Smarty and it is still high so I hooked up my voltmeter to the battery and sure enough its charging at 15v+
Any ideas, doesn't the ecm do the voltage regulating? If so it seems awfully coincidental that it would do this right after flashing it with the Smarty?

 

How old are your batteries, and have you checked all the connections? There's a recent posting that discussed overcharging the batteries due to the fact the voltage (?) is monitored on one battery while the charging system is connected to the other battery. As a result, any issues with the wiring/connections causes the system to think the batteries need to be charged and results in overcharging of the one battery.

I'll try and find the thread it has some good information.

 

Here's the link I mentioned: Battery Charging Issue

Hope it helps!

 

Good info. Thanks EDR!!

 

My truck is an '07 with good batteries and it always charges between 14.8 and 15.1 volts according to my radar detector's built in volt meter. It's charged in that range since new.

 

When it is real cold outside our trucks charge more. Normal, just check all connections on the batteries.

 

OK thanks for all the replies guys.
EDR thanks for the link.
I will check all the connections tomorrow and see if it changes anything.

 

Just went through my charging system and all checks out. My Brakesmart shows higher charge in the winter...as mentioned above. It hovers in and around the 14.9-15.6 but once I am out on the hwy for awhile it settles in the 14.2 range.

I do not think the 'gauges' that come with the truck are real accurate...just a guide...kinda like the oil pressure gauge...its too slow compared to REAL world numbers and once the pressure drops to critical on that gauge its too late anyway...a friend of mine learned that the hard way after running over a deer and losing pressure FAST. He figured he's get to the next off ramp...did not make it. His engine was knocking before the gauge showed or warning came on.

Scotty

 

Thanks for the info Scotty, I will see what it does on a longer trip in the next couple of days.
Today I replaced all the battery terminal connectors to the military style and terminated all the cables with new lugs. Cleaned all the terminals and load tested both batteries and still the same, it's charging at 15v (verified by my Fluke DMM) pretty consistently once the grids stop cycling.
Perhaps I am fretting about nothing, we will see when this cold snap goes away and it warms up to normal temps.

 

Like I said, this is normal for Dodge vehicles... I have even had 2 different Dodge Durango's do the same thing. (Work trucks) No biggy. They just charge more in the colder weather for some reason. Work truck has 208,000 miles on it with the factory alternator. That would never happen with a GM product. They usually run through 1 every 50,000 miles.

 

The smarty fixed a chrysler tsb in your truck. Talk to Harry

 

Okay thanks Bob
Hey this thing really must be smart! LOL

 

Man I love this site!!!!!! My post below is about the charging system so don't let the first/second paragraphs fool ya. It may have something to do with my "overcharging problem", or it may not. I just want you to have as much information as I do so you can help me without wasteing your time.

Ok, I posted recently in the "Drip....Drip....Drip" forum under leaky coolant lines, got that worked out, no more drips but this morning on the way to work I noticed the temp guage was climbing and got to just over half. It's never done this before and has always been steady at just under half, except in the summer months when it's really hot.

Then it started to fluctuate, below normal, normal, and then on the highway, running at around 70ish + it would go to above the half way mark. Just barely, but over. Then as I eased up on the pedal once it got to cruising speed in OD the temp would come down. This is too much fluctuation I thought but maybe it's just old coolant and needs to be changed. Maybe the pump is bad.

Then, about an hour later as I get closer to the city where I work, I notice the battery guage is between half and maxed out!!! Like ratsun, mine has always been just over 14v under all operating speeds. The only time it would drop below is during warm up but that's normal, and the lights dim and all, normal. But it's never been this high.

This morning the outside temp was 24 degrees, and the same all the way to work. I always let it warm up to operating temp.

Is it possible that my "overcharging problem "is just the cold or should I take it to the shop and have them check it out? I work late, don't have a volt meter (I could borrow one maybe), and I commute with my funny little honey, so the last thing I need is to break down half way home at night in fridgid weather. I need to get it home, and once there I can switch to the car and let the truck sit till I check it out so......

Thanks for any help,
Rob

 

Sounds like you have an air bubble in the coolant system. Check your coolant before the drive home or at home.

 

Dude, I'm ready to walk out the door. So what, just open the radiator cap?
Rob