dham99

and ET, you're right. The previous owner did a lot of chopping besides the body itself. he relocated the jack/tireiron set, and had to do a bunch of wiring and stuff for the on board air compressor setup.

a lot of the stuff is undone like the rear defroster, transmission 'sport' switch, and others. this is the only light behind the dash that i can see. Also noticed TONS of wires are using the orange/black setup both in the cluster and behind the dash from all areas. just FYI...so those could come from anywhere.

however, the dash installed is just a different one from i beleive, the same year jeep. i have the original dash/cluster sitting in the passenger seat right now. however, i now need a new speed sensor unit because it broke when he tried to unplug the cable from it (near the floor/firewall).

98jeepsrt6

Everything worked before the mudding?? with new dash and all the same crap that was there before?

dham99

thing that sux is, manufacturers are stupid enough to actually do something like that...a single filiment or something causing an entire power system failure. maybe that isnt the case here, but if i put in a new bulb and this thing charges, im going to be pissed (and relieved). but if not, ill do the continuity test ET is talking about at the same time right after.

dham99

yes, I had it since April of this year. It worked great up until the first mudding. Then afterwards for a short while, then again stopped where we are now.

remember though, the first time i was having issues, the original alt was CAKED with mud and could have been shot. But perhaps the second time, coincidentally, i finally shorted the bulb that cut the circuit or something. It is possible (with my luck) that the two events would happen back to back, with zero relation.

98jeepsrt6

hate to burst a buddle here but it could be as simple as a bad alternator.. Again.

freegdr

freegdr

dham99

but its been tested at 2 Auto Zones (few times each) on their machines that grounds and everything. this one worked before/during/after the second mud session, a long ways from home. Its just later on near the house as i got home that something when wrong. I had the jeep running all day, starting and stopping with headlights/foglights on, battery gauge was normal 12-14 range or whatever, never dropped until later i noticed it.

so if its bad, multiple Auto Zones are not very reliable.

oh..and since i purchased it at Auto Zone, they wont warranty it unless it tests BAD. So Im F'd if thats the case..or out another $100.

ET JEEP

That is a good point but I believe he said he had this alternator tested and it tested good and that is why we are here troubleshooting.

dham99

perhaps i can convince the store manager to let me try a NEW one in the parking lot. I can swap out an alternator and put a new one in in less than 30-60 min. Ive got it down to a science lol

98jeepsrt6

I think stupid like these manufacturers do.. K.I.S.S it would be considered common sense.


As for all the black/orange wires.. They might all be signal wires, and after each the go to a ground.. im sure if you follow all of them they will come together at a grounding point.

98jeepsrt6

yeah they just check to see if the current runs through the alt. They dont test for efficiency.

If u want it to test bad im sure a few wacks with BFH will do the trick

freegdr

no any body with a nother xj

dham99

im not necessarily arguing with you, but why would they offer a warranty, but not test if the 'Alternator isn running efficiently'? so in affect, offer a warranty that they dont have to use on bad products on purpose?

98jeepsrt6

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