My 90 CTD started acting up last Friday. If I start it when its cold and have to Wait to start, it won't charge. But if I start it when its plugged in then it charges. I've tried shutting it off and re starting it after its warm and it still won't charge. But if I let it sit at home plugged in its fine. Any ideas. Thanks, Brian

 

When you say it won't charge do you mean absolutely zero charge voltage or just low, as in down around 8 vdc charge rate???<br>If it is the latter then it sounds like the manifold heaters are cycling and causing a voltage drop while they are engaged. This is normal. If you have literally zero volts for an extended period of time you've got other issues. <br>Can you clarify??<br><br>Bob.

 

It will sit at about 9 volts on the gauge(won't cycle like normal). I drove it like that for and hour and a half and by the time I finally got home it was at about 8 volts. It was dark and I couldn't even see the dash lights anymore. I put a charger on it immediatly and shut it down. Went back out and hour later pulled the charger off, hit the key, it fired up and charged just fine. ??? It will do it once its warm too. It will be warmed up, I will hit the key and it will turn over slow but fire up. Then after varying lengths of time it will jump up to 14 and charge. Also sometimes it will begin charging after a cold start after about 10 minuetes but sometimes it doesn't Stranges thing I've ever seen. <br><br>Thanks Bob<br><br>Brian

 

this may be early voltage regulator failure and it is real typical of 90 version. replacement should be $10-$15. at your gen/alt shop because it is not a part of the computer array. ;D. items to check, add grounding wire to block to assure proper connection, make sure the connections on back of alt are tight, and i always travel with a good spare.other ideas i've listened to: maybe it the rough ride/vibration, maybe it a failure of part of the circuit-bad connection, weak battery,etc causing a max demand over a longer period of time and burning the potentiometer inside the regulator...

 

You'll have to forgive me I'm not real up and up on deisels. I'm really handy on a gas but this is my first Deisel. Cheap parts are always good. The last few days its been charging. It will sit on about 9 right after a cold start. Then after a minuete or two it will start cycling and be fine. I don't even have a clue where the voltage reguator is. But if this continues I will change it just to eliminate one possobility.<br><br>Agesilver,<br>Where are you located?<br><br>Brian

 

hello I have a 1991 ctd, and had about the same problem it was the positive battery cable where it is fastend to fender well small hole it cable and it grounded out hope this helps good luck

 

Cool, I'll check that out. I'm waiting for a warmer day. Its been in the single digits for a week and a half staight. <br>Brian

 

if you do decide to put a new reg on it, it's located on the firewall, in the center. A bit of a reach to get to but only takes a min to swap it out

 

You want to make sure you have a good ground for the regulator as well if you change it out, and as other have said check your other grounds as well. bill

 

hi brian, if the battery is really run down the voltage may not show above 8-9 volts and the regulator will appear not to be doing anything (broken). next,drive around a little and the alternator will bring the charge up towards 10+volts and the regulator will begin to function as needed indicating it is just fine. keep the new regulator for the day when you really need it - when the voltage never recovers above 8 or 9 volts. i live in slc ut, or s.minnesota or on the road between-just can't get enough of that fine cold winter weather allan

 

Hey folks never forget that an alternator IS NOT A BATTERY CHARGER!! Asking it to be a battery charger will kill it. Use a real battery charger to bring your voltage back above 12.5 and the the alternator will do its job and top it up. Trust me. One more thing, in my experience Mopar electronic v regs fail to full field. This means they do not regulate output anymore and your battery will boil dry. Full charge from alternator. Usuallly accomonied by a smell like sewer gas from the hydrogen sulfide gas produced by the overcharging. Rick (Parts Guy)

 

For some reason this problem has vanished. I don't believe it to be gone for good though. If we ever get a day in the 30's I'm gonna take a wrench to all the electrical connections. I really can't test the regulator when its working so I'll have to wait untill it does this again to really find the problem. Thanks for the help<br><br>ageesilver,<br>I'm also from S.E. MN. I live in Mantorville and work in Rochester. I feel you pain man.

 

Have to disagree Rick, shortly after I got my truck it stopped charging. Put a new reg on it, without cleaning any contacts/grounds, and it's been fine for 25k mi since. The reg certainly didn't fail open.

 

Fair enough, but any I've had fail, failed to full field. However yesterday, after failing to full field, about 20 minutes later I heard an audible Click in my 83 Omni and NO CHARGE. So 5 minutes and one v reg later all was well. Glad it happened in town though. -34 is cold on either scale. Rick