Americanricer87

Hey everyone, I have a 95 XJ I just picked up 4 weeks ago. on my way home, shut her off at the pump and it would restart, solenoid clicked once with every key turn, battery voltage stayed at 12.6 volts. I figured well the starter motor had failed, replaced the starter at the gas station and on my way I went. 2 weeks later, the alternator started growling like a bad bearing, ok no big deal, untill I went to start the jeep and "click" just like before, took the starter back to adavanced and got another starter and an alternator and installed them, fired right up and made 14v on the cluster. next day, stopped at a friends and when i tried to restart, click, cycled the key 4 times and finally started to crank slowly at first but sped up and started. now it seems the alternator isn't charging, lights dim at idle and brighten significantly while revving up? grounds seem to be ok, i am going to clean them but the ones behind the alt didn't seem to make a difference when i cleaned them. I mean possible bad alternator? seems fishy and seems like i have something else going on. not sure where to start. also what does everyone think of the gm single wire alt swap?

bloddy mud

Have you changed the battery? Usually when a alternator dies it takes the battery with

Americanricer87

Yeah the original battery was an Optima Red Top, date of 10-10, load tested it tested bad, however... With a new Napa Legend Battery, the voltage at idle is 13.8 Volts, idle with headlights 13.8v, idle with blower motor low, lights on it drops to 13.4 and slowly drops, then at idle blower on high, brights on, and 2 hella h3 fog lights on drops to 12.8 Volts and continues to drop, shut all loads off and back up to 13.8 volts???? Everything i can come up with is bad new alternator??? but could be a load sensing issue??? which wire does the ecm sense load on??

Americanricer87

New Update, checked voltage at the large port on the alt, has 14.3V with all loads at idle, and a max of 13.5v at battery... where does that large wire lead? looks like into the main harness up to the firewall and back to the ecm? why isn't it making it back to the battery?

Americanricer87

Will I hurt anything by putting a wire from the large post on the alternator to the battery? wiring diagram shows that it should all have a junction, just cant find that location with out tearing the harness apart?

bloddy mud

Can you have the altinator tested. Cobbling is no good

Americanricer87

Yes I can have the alternator tested, however I have noticed the largest change in voltage output is when I turn on my blower motor, which i have an issue with anyway, no high speed. possibly a bad blower motor resistor pulling more than a 90 amp alt will put out at idle? is that possible and not blow a fuse or even melt something? plug on the blower motor looks good (not melted) Im going to add larger power wires, and change the after market battery clasps to ones that have a stud like for a semi and use HD battery ends for the starter and another alt cable. I will keep you posted on what I find though, might help someone else out... as well as replace the resistor