I have been searching and still am but I haven't found many people sharing the same symptoms...
Specs
4.0, auto, 1996
What I have done, warrantied battery (new within the last month). I just replaced the alternator tonight (ZJ "136 amp" unit) since I was sure this was the problem.
Turns out my alternators output is not increasing when loads are put on the system... I cannot for the life of me figure out why... tested with a volt meter, printed out diagnostics off of Mitchell on Demand (garbage program FYI)
With the engine idling the alternator charges are 13.8v, when I rev it up to 2500rpm it continues to charge at 13.8v so it's like it's in some sort of limp mode... as if it isn't receiving a single from the pcm to increase the voltage.
The Jeep hasn't left me stranded yet but when I have my headlights on you can see it's hovering around 13v, if I put the blower/rear defrost/stereo on the voltage will drop down to 12.3v
It had these same symptoms with the OEM 117 amp unit I just yanked out and now it's doing the same with the new ZJ alternator.
I have not upgraded the wiring but I did a Go-Jeep headlight upgrade after my harness melted last year so I made some new grounds. However this problem has been happening since before then...
I'm at a loss and I've dropped a lot of money already :twak: and I still can't figure this out. If I drive during the day it's fine because it'll just barely charge the batt since I won't be running any load on it minus a piss poor excuse of a stereo...
Specs
4.0, auto, 1996
What I have done, warrantied battery (new within the last month). I just replaced the alternator tonight (ZJ "136 amp" unit) since I was sure this was the problem.
Turns out my alternators output is not increasing when loads are put on the system... I cannot for the life of me figure out why... tested with a volt meter, printed out diagnostics off of Mitchell on Demand (garbage program FYI)
With the engine idling the alternator charges are 13.8v, when I rev it up to 2500rpm it continues to charge at 13.8v so it's like it's in some sort of limp mode... as if it isn't receiving a single from the pcm to increase the voltage.
The Jeep hasn't left me stranded yet but when I have my headlights on you can see it's hovering around 13v, if I put the blower/rear defrost/stereo on the voltage will drop down to 12.3v
It had these same symptoms with the OEM 117 amp unit I just yanked out and now it's doing the same with the new ZJ alternator.
I have not upgraded the wiring but I did a Go-Jeep headlight upgrade after my harness melted last year so I made some new grounds. However this problem has been happening since before then...
I'm at a loss and I've dropped a lot of money already :twak: and I still can't figure this out. If I drive during the day it's fine because it'll just barely charge the batt since I won't be running any load on it minus a piss poor excuse of a stereo...