Battery Gauge went Toast, Check Gauge Light on, rest ok
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Champion
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 8
From: NorCal
Battery Gauge went Toast, Check Gauge Light on, rest ok
I couldn't find anything related to this situation, so let me explain as best I can.
Went into the snow last Saturday as shown here.
After getting underway to leave, everything was running fine. About 10 minutes later the Check Gauge Light goes on (I think that is what it was, red color) along with the dinger. Only thing I see is the Battery Gauge showing no charge. Truck just driving fine with no issue as we continue.
I thought ok, battery is not getting any more charge, yet we are still running so the alternator is fine, keep going until back out to the gas station, which was still another 30 minutes to go pending conditions.
Edit, we did put voltmeter on battery and it was getting charged >13v.
Got to the gas station and was ready to shut off as I had friend to jump if needed. Restarted fine and the battery meter worked. I never had time to look at anything physically (like fuses) but have driven 2 times since that day.
Any idea what this was/is? Anything I should check out?
Oh and I'd be glad to change the Thread title to something better for this topic assuming you smarter people got something.
Thanks
Went into the snow last Saturday as shown here.
After getting underway to leave, everything was running fine. About 10 minutes later the Check Gauge Light goes on (I think that is what it was, red color) along with the dinger. Only thing I see is the Battery Gauge showing no charge. Truck just driving fine with no issue as we continue.
I thought ok, battery is not getting any more charge, yet we are still running so the alternator is fine, keep going until back out to the gas station, which was still another 30 minutes to go pending conditions.
Edit, we did put voltmeter on battery and it was getting charged >13v.
Got to the gas station and was ready to shut off as I had friend to jump if needed. Restarted fine and the battery meter worked. I never had time to look at anything physically (like fuses) but have driven 2 times since that day.
Any idea what this was/is? Anything I should check out?
Oh and I'd be glad to change the Thread title to something better for this topic assuming you smarter people got something.
Thanks
Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,025
Likes: 72
From: orangeville ontario
what does the computer say? i don't know about the the new trucks but it sounds like your truck may have ether not been charging or your gauge is dying since i would guess it share power with all the other gauges.
Champion
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 0
From: Harrisburg,PA
I know when out snow wheeling before the snow packed up into the engine bay and hit the alternator.. check gauges showed no charging untill snow was all clear and it dried up.. didnt have an issue with starting or charging either
Thread Starter
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Champion
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 8
From: NorCal
My gauge was reading zero, zip, nada, pegged to the far left. All other gauges were fine and normal. Gauge cluster lights on.
Noted that this could be symptom of a dieing battery. It is new from Napa 12/2008.
Thanks Dodge underscore Dude of 1994.
I have one thought that might be related to the heated mirror function. We used that and am I right in thinking it's a timer kind of function? It turns off in roughly 10 minutes or so right?
All other electrical functions that I could reasonably notice and check were as normal as could be. These symptoms seem funky.
Legend
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 8,025
Likes: 72
From: orangeville ontario
yes that is exactly what i meant. if the light comes on telling you something is wrong you should hook up a code reader and find out what the truck is complaining about.
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Thread Starter
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Champion
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,891
Likes: 8
From: NorCal
It is a Check Gauge Light as opposed to Check Engine Light. The Check Gauge Light went off on the restart.
I put my code reader on and no DTCs.
I went to look at the FSM Section 8J-33 for the Voltage Gauge
From this it looks more like experiencing a Message Failure condition. Something interrupted the monitoring. Probably close to what dlyter mentions as a first reasonable cause. Otherwise I've got to get DRBIII scan tool which is $$$.
Sidenote about being further lame schtuff in CA i learned today at Oreillys. I asked if they loan out or offer putting scan tool on customer car as I had my wife's Explorer post-smog test. He said they can't provide them anymore as it takes "work" away from mechanics and it's ONLY in CA. Wow....does that meet Daily WTF? standard? No, just more effed up crap here.
I may call AAA to come out for free to test my system.
I put my code reader on and no DTCs.
I went to look at the FSM Section 8J-33 for the Voltage Gauge
OPERATION
The voltage gauge gives an indication to the vehicle
operator of the electrical system voltage. This
gauge is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit
board based upon the cluster programming and electronic
messages received by the cluster from the
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Chrysler
Collision Detection (CCD) data bus. The voltage
gauge is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery
current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit
board through the fused ignition switch output
(st-run) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the
On or Start positions. The cluster is programmed to
move the gauge needle back to the low end of the
scale after the ignition switch is turned to the Off
position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls
the gauge needle position and provides the following
features:
² Charge Fail Message - Each time the cluster
receives a message from the PCM indicating a charge
fail condition (system voltage is 10.8 volts or lower),
the gauge needle is moved to the 8 volt graduation
on the gauge scale and the check gauges indicator is
illuminated. The gauge needle remains on the 8 volt
graduation and the check gauges indicator remains
illuminated until the cluster receives a message from
the PCM indicating there is no charge fail condition
(system voltage is 10.9 volts or higher, but lower
than 16.7 volts), or until the ignition switch is turned
to the Off position, whichever occurs first. On models
equipped with the optional diesel engine, the instrument
cluster is programmed to support the voltmeter
gauge needle above the low end of normal graduation
and suppress the check gauges indicator operation
until ten seconds after the engine intake manifold air
heater has completed its cycle.
² Voltage High Message - Each time the cluster
receives a message from the PCM indicating a voltage
high condition (system voltage is 16.7 volts or
higher), the gauge needle is moved to the 18 volt
graduation on the gauge scale and the check gauges
indicator is illuminated. The gauge needle remains
on the 18 volt graduation and the check gauges indicator
remains illuminated until the cluster receives a
message from the PCM indicating there is no voltage
high condition (system voltage is 16.6 volts or lower,
but higher than 10.9 volts), or until the ignition
switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs
first.
² Message Failure - If the cluster fails to receive
a system voltage message, it will hold the gauge needle
at the last indication until a new message is
received, or until the ignition switch is turned to the
Off position, whichever occurs first.
² Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put
through the actuator test, the gauge needle will be
swept to several calibration points on the gauge scale
in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality
of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the system voltage
to control the generator output. The PCM then sends
the proper system voltage messages to the instrument
cluster. For further diagnosis of the voltage
gauge or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls
the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). If
the instrument cluster turns on the check gauges
indicator due to a charge fail or voltage high condition,
it may indicate that the charging system
requires service. For proper diagnosis of the charging
system, the CCD data bus, or the message inputs to
the instrument cluster that control the voltage
gauge, a DRBIIIt scan tool is required. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.
The voltage gauge gives an indication to the vehicle
operator of the electrical system voltage. This
gauge is controlled by the instrument cluster circuit
board based upon the cluster programming and electronic
messages received by the cluster from the
Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Chrysler
Collision Detection (CCD) data bus. The voltage
gauge is an air core magnetic unit that receives battery
current on the instrument cluster electronic circuit
board through the fused ignition switch output
(st-run) circuit whenever the ignition switch is in the
On or Start positions. The cluster is programmed to
move the gauge needle back to the low end of the
scale after the ignition switch is turned to the Off
position. The instrument cluster circuitry controls
the gauge needle position and provides the following
features:
² Charge Fail Message - Each time the cluster
receives a message from the PCM indicating a charge
fail condition (system voltage is 10.8 volts or lower),
the gauge needle is moved to the 8 volt graduation
on the gauge scale and the check gauges indicator is
illuminated. The gauge needle remains on the 8 volt
graduation and the check gauges indicator remains
illuminated until the cluster receives a message from
the PCM indicating there is no charge fail condition
(system voltage is 10.9 volts or higher, but lower
than 16.7 volts), or until the ignition switch is turned
to the Off position, whichever occurs first. On models
equipped with the optional diesel engine, the instrument
cluster is programmed to support the voltmeter
gauge needle above the low end of normal graduation
and suppress the check gauges indicator operation
until ten seconds after the engine intake manifold air
heater has completed its cycle.
² Voltage High Message - Each time the cluster
receives a message from the PCM indicating a voltage
high condition (system voltage is 16.7 volts or
higher), the gauge needle is moved to the 18 volt
graduation on the gauge scale and the check gauges
indicator is illuminated. The gauge needle remains
on the 18 volt graduation and the check gauges indicator
remains illuminated until the cluster receives a
message from the PCM indicating there is no voltage
high condition (system voltage is 16.6 volts or lower,
but higher than 10.9 volts), or until the ignition
switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs
first.
² Message Failure - If the cluster fails to receive
a system voltage message, it will hold the gauge needle
at the last indication until a new message is
received, or until the ignition switch is turned to the
Off position, whichever occurs first.
² Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put
through the actuator test, the gauge needle will be
swept to several calibration points on the gauge scale
in a prescribed sequence in order to confirm the functionality
of the gauge and the cluster control circuitry.
The PCM continually monitors the system voltage
to control the generator output. The PCM then sends
the proper system voltage messages to the instrument
cluster. For further diagnosis of the voltage
gauge or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls
the gauge, (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT
CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING). If
the instrument cluster turns on the check gauges
indicator due to a charge fail or voltage high condition,
it may indicate that the charging system
requires service. For proper diagnosis of the charging
system, the CCD data bus, or the message inputs to
the instrument cluster that control the voltage
gauge, a DRBIIIt scan tool is required. Refer to the
appropriate diagnostic information.
Sidenote about being further lame schtuff in CA i learned today at Oreillys. I asked if they loan out or offer putting scan tool on customer car as I had my wife's Explorer post-smog test. He said they can't provide them anymore as it takes "work" away from mechanics and it's ONLY in CA. Wow....does that meet Daily WTF? standard? No, just more effed up crap here.
I may call AAA to come out for free to test my system.
Record Breaker
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 2
From: live oak, ca
no clue if its related or not, but i used to have the same issue with my fuel gauge, randomly it would just drop all the way to the bottom past empty and turn on the light, most of the time a key cycle would clear it up and it would begin working normally sometines it would take 2-3 key on/off's to clear it up, when i did the conversion and put the diesel cluster in, the problem went away,
on another note, if it becomes an on going issue i do have a spare 98-02 gas cluster setting on the work bench if you wanted to try swaping it out
on another note, if it becomes an on going issue i do have a spare 98-02 gas cluster setting on the work bench if you wanted to try swaping it out
