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Charging system

I

Island250

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Port alberni bc
Hi, this is my first post to the site . I'm wondering if anyone can hp out with an electrical issue? I have a 100amp alt in my 83 k5 for about 2 yrs with no problems. Recently it's charging up to 15.14 volts while driving . It hasn't done this before now. Had the alt bench tested and they said it's fine . Did my guage just start working and this is normal ? Or is this a problem ? Thanks For any input
 
thx 4xcrazy i unhooked one of my batteries. the auxiliary batt, and runs / charges great off the one batt. time for a new one
 
Well turns out not the batteries . Was told it was the alt from a mechanic so I replaced that . Was reading fine after I hooked everything back up . As soon as I drive it shoots back up to 15+
 
Does it go to 15V if you just rev the engine while in park? If so, could you measure the voltage using a multi-meter while it does that just to verify it's not the gauge.
 
I mentioned the batteries only because I have seen several go bad and it causes the alternator to try extra hard to get a charge to the battery, over charging reading of the gauges.

If it's not the batteries, then the regulator in the alternator went bad.
 
absolutely put your own meter on it. and an amp clamp if you have access to one. verify independently of the guage that theres an actual problem. if you can't verify the problem, then there is no problem. then get a new guage/ if theres an actual problem then trouble shoot.



chasing nothing with make you poorer than you have to be.
 
Thx guys . I have been checking it with a volt meter as well as an aftermarket guage . Seems to be holding about 14.8 now while driving . Sometimes it will go up while parked and reving it . I've looked everywhere for a short and checked all the grounds . It's a diesel , don't know if that makes a difference . Maybe it just likes to charge a little high . Think I'll just drive it and see how it goes
 
normal charge rate is 13.7 to 14.3


anything more than that is bad for the battery...
 
Well I think it's a little high too . But can't seem to find anything . Going to pull off the starter and check all the wiring behind there .. This thing has a disaster of wiring in it from p/o . Cut off and spliced everywhere . Glow plug controller has wires hanging off , old turbo gauges etc.. Been slowly trying to clean it up . I'll let you know if I ever figure it out
 
Well, I thought it was ok . Got stranded with the family tonight.Drove fine yesterday . As soon as I hit the logging road today voltmeter started to go up. Finally volts went up to 18+ . Wipers went so fast one flew off ! Smelled some hot wires . Stereo was cutting on and off with bumps . Then engine died.
Changed the fusible link on the fire wall restored power in the cab . Engine would crank but not start.
I did notice earlier when looking around I would get 14.5 v off the fuse box then right beside it a yellow wire I would get 15.5v traced the yellow wire back to the sending unit. Not sure where the other end went behind the dash
 
Just wanna make sure your driving a K5 and not this...

christine.jpg
 
The yellow wire on the sending unit is for the "Water In Fuel" light on diesels...

Not sure why that one would get more voltage than any other wire...:confused:
 
It would be beneficial to put an amp clamp on it when it strokes out and when it's running normally.
 
My guess is a main power wire is shorting to ground somewhere,and the alternator jacks up the amps and volts to compensate for the load...
 
well, a little update. We got a chance to go over it today.
Turns out the wire on the glow plug controller that is supposed to be grounded isn't. And the solenoid in my IP is fried( hence the no start)
I recently had a guy do some work on it for me . Shock hoops and he had to cut out my inner fenders . I'm really wondering if somehow the wire got cut in the process.
Hoping I can reconnect the grounds and replace the solenoid and be back on the road!
 
Blazooki said:
Just wanna make sure your driving a K5 and not this...
Click to expand...


Jeeze mabe I'm too old....thats a picture of the car from the movie "Christine" based on Stephen Kings novel of the same title...where the car is alive, does things on its own and kills people.
 
Well it's still acting up . Checked all the wiring /grounds . New battery/ alternator. Still charging high. It will seem to charge fine then soon as I'm in gear driving , up it goes . Only Plc I haven't checked is the starter . Not sure if that can malfunction and cause this ?
 
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