Hello, I have a 88 ram with a 318 in it. It has a new alternater in it but im still having problems. I put a fresh battery in it and it starts up fine.....for about 7 starts. It will run with the battery disconnected. Butt the dern thing doesnt charge the battery. I would appreciate any suggestions.

 

Trace the smaller wire on the pos cable between the batt. and the starter relay junction. Seems the alt is feeding juice upstream of there to the rest of the system.

 

alright. so what exactly will I be looking for?

 

Bad wire,bad connection.
Check all wires coming from the battery and alternator

 

make sure the tension on the alternator is good. i mean its probably a bad connection, but wouldnt wanna do all that digging for something so easy

 

went up there and the alternator appeared to be putting out around 13 volts. The voltmeter I was using wasnt very good though. Maybe it was a bad battery. Im checking all connections and fuses tomorow. The belt is plenty tight. I thought of that today. Thanks guys and keep the suggestions coming. thank you

 

13 volts is perfect. couldnt you wire the alternator to the battery directly, just for short hops around town to see if its the batery. Careful though, since I tihnk if you wired directly to the bat. and drove on the highway you might boil it.

 

Well its mainly a farm truck. It is street legal but its hard to keep straight till you get up to 50 mph. anyway, I came home today, attempted to start the truck and it wouldnt turn over. even weirder when I turned the lights on it started turning over.....then went back to click click click. So it must be discharging somewhere. I didnt drive it anywhere the battery just died over night. Im gonna try just disconnecting it when its not in use. the wiring on this truck is well.....lets just say not factory. The wiring harness got wrapped around the steering column one time and ripped it up pretty good. Anytips on how to find where its discharging at? Ive never had a car do this to me before.