grounds on my 96

[ak diesel driver]

I've been having some trouble with the charging system on my truck. Whenever there is a large draw, ie starting the engine, it charges fine up around 15 volts on the gauge. After it has charged up the voltage starts to drop. It will get down to around 10 volts and then it will start to charge again. Been reading alot about grounds so I thought I'd clean mine and see if that helped. I cleaned everything I could find and took pics also so if I missed any please let me know. Oh also I already changed the alt didn't change anything.

 

[ak diesel driver]

one more

 

[bk95td]

Do you know what the actual voltage at the batteries Is? Factory gauge isn't always reliable. My 95 does a similar thing. Voltage at the batteries stays at 14.4. The ground going to the instrament cluster may not be the best.

 

[jamierayo]

My factory gauge doesn't fluctuate like that, but it doesn't read true either. You definitely need to check the voltage with a real meter to know what's really going on.
The stock gauges are really just gauge-shaped idiot lights.):h

 

[ak diesel driver]

I haven't actually checked it at the battery but I do notice that my driving lights get brighter when it is charging.

 

[buddy]

What kind or part number of alternator did you put on? You should make sure you got the correct one for the diesel, because I think the voltage regulation is different on them.

 

[JMJNet]

Check the alt. Make sure the voltage regulator is working.

 

[ak diesel driver]

So I take it I must have gotten all the grounds?

 

[chrisk1500]

You forgot the ground for the dash.

It is located on the ALDL/OBD II port bracket.....inside the truck of course...

 

[sshewins]

Chris, that OBD2 ground, is that the same location for the OBD1 also? Got a fuel gauge that looks like a pinwheel some days...and the above mentioned voltage issue.

 

[chrisk1500]

Yes...hence why I wrote 'ALDL/OBD II' port....covers both versions....

 

[96 OILBURNER]

So I take it I must have gotten all the grounds?

There is one on the firewall behind the coolant reservior. You have to pull the inner fender to get to it.

 

[Matt Bachand]

Chris, that OBD2 ground, is that the same location for the OBD1 also? Got a fuel gauge that looks like a pinwheel some days...and the above mentioned voltage issue.

Find the ground for your FSU. Its by the axle on some, never found mine yet. Different on different trucks. Supposed to fix that fuel guage problem. Mine does it too, and a new FSU did nothing for it.

 

[sshewins]

Sorry bout that, I wasn't quite sure what ALDL was. Turns out the actual fuel gauge was the culprit.

 

[DMDK]

could u be more specific b/c I've got the same problem?? Location? Fix?

 

[bison]

there's 2 more , above the computer on the firewall, and one below the heater tubes from the firewall down to the frame.[sweet one to get at]