For Sale - 2006 Dodge Ram 2500- Flatbed for long box bed Winch bumper Flat Bed for Long Box 3rd generation Cummins Tootlbox are included with key I have a flatbed for 3rd Generation dodge Cummins. This flatbed comes with a gooseneck hitch already in the bed. The winch bumper is part of the set. Tootlbox have a key to lock and unlock all box a single key. There is rust starting and electrical will have to be sorted out on your own.
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Price: $1,000.00
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Location: New Meadows, Idaho
I recently took my truck/5th wheel on a trip to the U.P. of MI. On the first day out, a couple hrs into the drive, I glanced down at my gauges and noticed the voltmeter hanging low in the 12 volt area. At the time I was running with my headlights on which included all the running lights on the 5ver. First thing I did was turn off the lights - voltage came up slightly. About that time my better half informed me she was due for a pit stop so I pulled over on an exit ramp & let her into the trailer. While she was doing that I had a look under the hood. All looked fine but I detected a slight noise coming from the alternator that was unfamiliar; it did not seem to change pitch with rpm like a noisy bearing would do, not a belt slip - kinda hard to describe but like an electronic buzz. By this time she was ready to go so we got back underway. After a short while I noticed the voltmeter was looking normal again so I tried the lights to see if it would draw it down again - it didn't. At the next fuel stop about 2 hrs later I listened under the hood again for the noise but it had stopped. We finished our 2000 mile,13 day trip wiithout anoother incident, and I was watching the voltmeter like a hawk.
Since our trip (returned home 2 weeks ago today) I hadn't used the truck until yesterday to commute to work. It started right up & ran fine, voltmeter showing a normal indication. I have a Juice with Attitude unit installed on my truck and I changed the display to monitor ECM voltage. At idle with headlights and wipers it would read as low as 12.2, but would quickly increase to 13.9/14.2 volts while underway (1600 - 1800 rpm). After work the rain was gone so I started out without the headlights & wipers, and the voltage was 13.2 + at idle immediatly after start-up. I pulled out of the lot at work and drove the 1/2 mile to the interstate ramp, when I glanced at the ECM voltage which was now reading 12.2 volts. I closeely monitored the voltage during the 17 mile commute and saw it slowly going down to 11.7 at idle and a peak of 12.0 at speed. Once at home I parked the truck & shut it down, then i turned on the ignition (did not start) to see where battery voltage was - it showed12.2 volts. I then re-started the truck & the voltage read 11.8 volts.This morning I started the truck - voltage was down to 10.2 but I believe that was due to the grid heaters being activated. I didn't let it run long enough for the heaters to turn off before shutting it down.
Way I see it the problem could be one of three things - A bad alternator, a bad PCM (voltage regulator), or a bad connection at the alternator or PCM. Another contributing factor could be the batteries are getting a little weak - I think they are about 5 years old. I plan to pull the batteries & get them charged/tested first. In the mean time I plan to check connections at the field wire plug & BAT connection on the alternator, and check for a decent ground of the alt (they are case grounded aren't they?). I am suspicous of the alternator since it was making a wierd noise a few weeks ago, but would have expected it to stay bad & not miraculously fix itself for the duration of our vacation. Hopefully it is not a bad VR because I hate the thought of replacing a PCM.
Any testing and troubleshooting advice would be welcomed. Thanks for your time!
Joe in St Louis