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Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go hereXJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.
Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Originally Posted by COBRAMAN5.0
My XJ does not have a ground at the dipstick, it has a ground strap attached to the back of the head.
That one is just there to suppress radio noise from the injectors. It's not intended to carry any significant current. It's not a viable replacement for your other grounds.
Yes, indeed the voltage regulator is in the alternator. There's an easy test if the OP is interested.
Hi all, Cruiser,
I'm currently facing a charging issue on my 89 Renix.
Symptoms and tests:
- Dashboard voltmeter indicates around 10V. (btw, the dashboard voltmeter works even when the pigtail connector is removed from the alternator)
- Voltage on battery connections reads 11,9V engine off or engine on. Revving the engine makes no difference. Definitely not charging.
- Battery voltage (11,9V) at the Red wire (B post) coming from alternator with engine running. I checked on the alternator and on the wire.
- Battery voltage (11,9V) at the Yellow pig tail wire when key is on. (wire connected on alternator F post)
- No current at the Brown/Black wire with key on or off. (wire connected to L post on alternator) Could this be the issue?
Weird: the previous owner soldered a 5W test lamp between the yellow wire (F post) and the brown/black (L post) wire after the connector in the engine bay. On the photo you can still see the solder on the wires. I never saw it working, didn't understood why it was there (permanent charging test?) and removed it.
EDIT: I put the test lamp back (basically jumping F post and L post and alternator start charging, but only at 12,7V at idle and 12,9V at around 2000rpm.
I cleaned all the grounds I could find less than a year ago (followed Cruiser's list)
I searched online but could not find a reliable wiring diagram for the Renix charging system, neither a way to test it otherwise than what I did above.
Also, I'm not sure what the brown/black L post wire is for.
The alternator costs $500 in France, I'd rather be sure what the problem is before buying a new one...
Thanks in advance for your help!
Last edited by XJ100; May 15, 2020 at 08:28 AM.
Reason: extra information
Hi all, Cruiser,
I'm currently facing a charging issue on my 89 Renix.
Symptoms and tests:
- Dashboard voltmeter indicates around 10V. (btw, the dashboard voltmeter works even when the pigtail connector is removed from the alternator)
- Voltage on battery connections reads 11,9V engine off or engine on. Revving the engine makes no difference. Definitely not charging.
- Battery voltage (11,9V) at the Red wire (B post) coming from alternator with engine running. I checked on the alternator and on the wire.
- Battery voltage (11,9V) at the Yellow pig tail wire when key is on. (wire connected on alternator F post)
- No current at the Brown/Black wire with key on or off. (wire connected to L post on alternator) Could this be the issue?
Weird: the previous owner soldered a 5W test lamp between the yellow wire (F post) and the brown/black (L post) wire after the connector in the engine bay. On the photo you can still see the solder on the wires. I never saw it working, didn't understood why it was there (permanent charging test?) and removed it.
EDIT: I put the test lamp back (basically jumping F post and L post and alternator start charging, but only at 12,7V at idle and 12,9V at around 2000rpm.
I cleaned all the grounds I could find less than a year ago (followed Cruiser's list)
I searched online but could not find a reliable wiring diagram for the Renix charging system, neither a way to test it otherwise than what I did above.
Also, I'm not sure what the brown/black L post wire is for.
The alternator costs $500 in France, I'd rather be sure what the problem is before buying a new one...
Thanks in advance for your help!
Did you solve your issue? I am facing the same with my 1989. Alternator was replaced several months ago after the old one failed by OVER charging (16v+) and boiling the battery. Now I’m experiencing the opposite end of the spectrum…
