JUST WONDERING...WHEN I START MY TRUCK AFTER I ALLOW THE GLOW-PLUGS TO DO THEIR THING, MY VOLTAGE GAUGE DROPS FROM 13-14AMPS DOWN TO BELOW HALFWAY AND CONTINUES TO DO THIS 4-5 TIMES WHILE I LET THE TRUCK WARM-UP. THERE IS ALSO A NOTICEABLE DRAW ON POWER IN THE TRUCK BECAUSE THE LIGHTS GO DIM, AND THEN GET BRIGHTER AS THE VOLTAGE INCREASES. WE HAVE HAD SOME REALLY COLD MORNINGS HERE IN CHICAGO SO IM WONDERING IF THAT COULD BE THE CAUSE, BUT MY 04 HEMI NEVER DID THIS. IM STILL KINDA NEW TO THE DIESEL RAM WORLD SO ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED.

 

cummins doesnt have glow plugs. it uses a grid heater to warm the air comming in the head to asist on cold mornings. it will cylce several times untill the engine is warm or driven over 18 mph... its normal

 

Couple of things to fill you in on. Please turn off the caps lock, some people take it to mean that you are yelling at them...
Now on to some answers, Cummins Diesels do not have glow plugs. They have air and fuel heaters. There is an air heater grid located on your intake. The draw you are talking about is the grid heater turning on and off. This is normal. Oh and welcome to the forum......DAVID

 

Parts/Service has you covered. My 2001 does the same thing when it is really cold out.

 

And if it gets really cold, the engine idle speed will increase.