I have been having an intermittent electrical problem I'm hoping someone can help me with. My voltage guage in the dash will sometimes shoot all the way from 14 ( in the middle ) up to 19 ( causing my check guages light to come on ). it happens when I reach certain speeds and then it will come back down to 14 when I come to an idle at a light.

I have also had issues with my jeep going completely dead when I go to start it, but then all the sudden all the lights will pop on, and it will start fine.

I have a 2001 limited edition cherokee. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Have you done any diagnosing?

Sounds like it could be a bad regulator. Could also be a bad gauge. Or loose battery cables causing the jump in voltage.

 

I would expect loose battery cables to cause a loss of voltage, and not an increase.

What the OP needs to do is check the battery with a VOM at idle and then watch it as the throttle is gradually opened. As the revs increase, the voltage might increase a little, but shouldn't exceed 15V. If it goes beyond, the regulator is likely the culprit, and will boil the battery.

 

loose cable might be causing the ecm regulator to think the batery needs charged???? causing a spike

 

I think not, but you can prove or disprove it. Put a meter on the battery CABLES and watch the voltage as you loosen the cable from the post. I think the voltage regulator should limit the voltage output, otherwise would try to dump in excessive voltage to a weak battery. Don't confuse voltage with amperage.

 

i agree i was concentrating on the sudden spike not the amount there was a post on here awhile back i remember the 19

 

new i saw it somewhererhttp://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f11/v...-spike-820600/

 

last night we did the same thing worked on a problem and no op around ...lol...

 

Expect, huh?

Heh.