Fozzy_Bear
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Norfolk, Va
I've got an electrical issue with my 89 XJ, but it's a 4.0, so I'm guessing it would be the same for any jeep. But just in case, here are the details; 89XJ with 250,000 miles on a 4.0. 5 speed trans.
...
Anyway, my alternator is not charging the battery. I tried the usual suspects (alternator, belt tightness, ground wire, fuseable link) and all were well (or replaced without fixing the problem).
Then I tried to trace the wires that came from the plug (that connects to the regulator) and I saw that one went into a six-pin connector (physically located right next to the battery) that was old and damaged. I disconnected the plug while the engine was running and I instantly heard the engine go under load, and sure enough, the system was reading just under 14 volts. When I connected it back, the engine kept charging. So I went around like that for a while, and periodically I'd notice the meter in the red, so I'd lift the hood and pull the connector, replace it, and it would be OK for another little while.
Well, then I bought another connector (from a junk yard) and moved the wires connected to damaged ports on the old one to the new one. ... Everything kept charging.
Then I had an issue with my cooling system and in the process of finding/fixing that, I got coolant pretty much everywhere in the engine bay (not pretty... almost got stranded on the site of I64). Well once I got that sorted (a new pump, hoses, thermostat and radiator later) I noticed it was only charging very weakly.
Well, after doing some investigating I have discovered that the first time I start the jeep that day, the systems charges for a few minutes, and then fades over about 10 minutes until it is just barely not in the red on the gage. Then after another 10 minutes it slips into the red and stays there. - If I start it for the first time that day, and then turn off the and restart the engine before 10 minutes, the gage never gets out of the red, even if I only had the engine on for a few seconds.
So I'm thinking it's maybe water related, maybe related to a part that is 20 years old with 250K on it, or maybe just a weird symptom of needing a battery. Since I don't understand how the voltage regulator is supposed to function, or what it connects to, I'm kinda stuck.
Anybody know what's going on here?
...
Anyway, my alternator is not charging the battery. I tried the usual suspects (alternator, belt tightness, ground wire, fuseable link) and all were well (or replaced without fixing the problem).
Then I tried to trace the wires that came from the plug (that connects to the regulator) and I saw that one went into a six-pin connector (physically located right next to the battery) that was old and damaged. I disconnected the plug while the engine was running and I instantly heard the engine go under load, and sure enough, the system was reading just under 14 volts. When I connected it back, the engine kept charging. So I went around like that for a while, and periodically I'd notice the meter in the red, so I'd lift the hood and pull the connector, replace it, and it would be OK for another little while.
Well, then I bought another connector (from a junk yard) and moved the wires connected to damaged ports on the old one to the new one. ... Everything kept charging.
Then I had an issue with my cooling system and in the process of finding/fixing that, I got coolant pretty much everywhere in the engine bay (not pretty... almost got stranded on the site of I64). Well once I got that sorted (a new pump, hoses, thermostat and radiator later) I noticed it was only charging very weakly.
Well, after doing some investigating I have discovered that the first time I start the jeep that day, the systems charges for a few minutes, and then fades over about 10 minutes until it is just barely not in the red on the gage. Then after another 10 minutes it slips into the red and stays there. - If I start it for the first time that day, and then turn off the and restart the engine before 10 minutes, the gage never gets out of the red, even if I only had the engine on for a few seconds.
So I'm thinking it's maybe water related, maybe related to a part that is 20 years old with 250K on it, or maybe just a weird symptom of needing a battery. Since I don't understand how the voltage regulator is supposed to function, or what it connects to, I'm kinda stuck.
Anybody know what's going on here?