I've been having some issues lately. My car battery voltage meter just jumps from 14 to 18 and the check gauges light comes on. I replaced the starter, the battery is fine, and the alternator checks out when tested? anyone have any ideas?

 

how abouts was the alternator checked?

 

I had it tested at Autozone, they checked the battery, and starter, and the alternator. I was having problems starting the car in the mornings, so I had the starter replaced and it starts fine now. But the voltage just jumps up when Im on the road.

 

Generally i'd say check your grounds then have the alternator tested with a real diagnostic meter made for charging systems (Hooking up a multimeter wont cut it) first, any discrepancies will be shown. Secondly after such, have the battery load tested. Electrical diagnostics is quite a troublesome process so its best to start ruling out the basics with suited equipment.

 

Im kind of short on cash right now, so let me ask this... Does this pose an immediate problem? Or can it wat until I get some more money?

 

When the alternator was tested was the engine rev'd up and idled for the test? ( Sorry if im asking too much, notup to dateon what the stores have been doing lately.) Hows the battery cables look? Grounds fine? did you guys check for codes eventhough a CEL was not on? Biggest problem i see here is making sure that your not really hitting 18v's and frying the battery etc etc. The Check Gauges light indicates that the volt meter is working so you can somewhat rule that out.

 

Im thinking the alternator regulator is on its way out (if not a bad ground)and if your actually pushing 18 to the battery at times, not only will you have to buy a new Alt but a battery aswell. How soon did this happen after replacing the starter?

 

Ask away man, your an expert as compared to me. Battery cables are good, a little old, but fine. Grounds fine, i cleaned all the terminals to make sure it had a good connection. I did rev and idle during the alternator test. And when you say "did you guys check for codes eventhough a CEL was not on? " I have no idea what your talking about, dumb it down a bit for me. I'm a computer nerd not a greaser.

Thanks a bunch!

 

This was happening long before I replaced the starter, typically when it does, I just power off the car, and start it again, and its fine. It happens intermittently.

 

140 amp fuse located just insde the engine compartment fuse box. Both the negstive and positive wires attach to the fuse box from here. 15 bucks at Dodge dealership 15 minutes to install and you shouldn't have a problem anymore.

I too had this problem although my battery wasn't getting charged, I replaced everything just to find out it was a darn fuse.