So last night I am driving home from visiting a mechanic friend (ya go figure) and about halfway home the "Check Gauges" light dings. All the gauges are fine except the battery gauge is pegged to 18V.

I immediately pull over and turn the truck off. I grab my flashlight and pop the hood to see if I see anything strange. Don't see too much, check a few wires then get back in the truck and start her up. Everything is fine. I drove the rest of the way home without a hiccup.

I replaced the battery about two weeks ago with a new Duralast Gold 750. I did notice when I installed the battery that the negative cable just would clamp on real well but when I checked it last night it seems snug enough.

Any thoughts fellow Dodgers?

 

I was gonna suggest the ground cable. Now from my recent experience the ground wire that goes from the neg terminal to the power steering pump is steel. Mine had rusted through. Might be worth checking. Sounds like a bad ground to me. But i would check where it bolts to the powersteering pump and make sure its good. I just replaced mine for like 8 bucks for a new neg cable from oreilys.

 

could be a bad regulator in the alternator, allowing it to overcharge...