Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
miles on it.

We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced.
Afterwards we started to experience problems with the
alternator not charging the battery. We have a brand
new battery, the old alternator tests out okay and
they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they
can't seem to find it. Do you think the voltage regulator
could be the problem? Or do we need to try another
alternator?

Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
alternator will charge?????

We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?

Rebekah and Wayne Malatt

savedforever@verizon.net

 

I would be checking the ground strap that runs from the back of the
engine up to the firewall for rot or a bad connection first.

Do you have a multimeter? Even a cheap one will work to test for a bad
ground.

You start with a voltage reading between the battery 'posts' with the
engine running and the headlights on. For this you leave the positive
meter probe on the post. Then you go from the positive post to the
alternator case with the negative meter probe. The voltage must be
'exactly' the same. If the voltage is different, you have a bad ground
and you can 'walk' the meter to find it.

To check this you move the negative meter probe to the negative cable
clamp and check the voltage. If it is lower than between the two posts,
the battery terminal and clamp need cleaning. Then you take the - probe
to the engine block and check the voltage, then to the alternator
bracket, then to the alternator. (alternator brackets are a sneaky
place for a bad ground)

Then you take the meter negative probe and put it on a bolt on the body
or on the bolt the mesh ground bolts to on the firewall and see.

Where ever you find a voltage drop, you have found a bad connection.

You can walk the meter the other way to see if the positive connections
are good. You go from the post to the clam, then to the solenoid or
relay cable loop, then the solenoid bolt. If you find a difference say
between the cable loop end and the solenoid bolt, that connection is dirty.

Hope this helps,

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

savedforever@verizon.net wrote:
> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.
>
> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced.
> Afterwards we started to experience problems with the
> alternator not charging the battery. We have a brand
> new battery, the old alternator tests out okay and
> they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they
> can't seem to find it. Do you think the voltage regulator
> could be the problem? Or do we need to try another
> alternator?
>
> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?
>
> Rebekah and Wayne Malatt
>
> savedforever@verizon.net
>

 

I would be checking the ground strap that runs from the back of the
engine up to the firewall for rot or a bad connection first.

Do you have a multimeter? Even a cheap one will work to test for a bad
ground.

You start with a voltage reading between the battery 'posts' with the
engine running and the headlights on. For this you leave the positive
meter probe on the post. Then you go from the positive post to the
alternator case with the negative meter probe. The voltage must be
'exactly' the same. If the voltage is different, you have a bad ground
and you can 'walk' the meter to find it.

To check this you move the negative meter probe to the negative cable
clamp and check the voltage. If it is lower than between the two posts,
the battery terminal and clamp need cleaning. Then you take the - probe
to the engine block and check the voltage, then to the alternator
bracket, then to the alternator. (alternator brackets are a sneaky
place for a bad ground)

Then you take the meter negative probe and put it on a bolt on the body
or on the bolt the mesh ground bolts to on the firewall and see.

Where ever you find a voltage drop, you have found a bad connection.

You can walk the meter the other way to see if the positive connections
are good. You go from the post to the clam, then to the solenoid or
relay cable loop, then the solenoid bolt. If you find a difference say
between the cable loop end and the solenoid bolt, that connection is dirty.

Hope this helps,

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

savedforever@verizon.net wrote:
> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.
>
> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced.
> Afterwards we started to experience problems with the
> alternator not charging the battery. We have a brand
> new battery, the old alternator tests out okay and
> they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they
> can't seem to find it. Do you think the voltage regulator
> could be the problem? Or do we need to try another
> alternator?
>
> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?
>
> Rebekah and Wayne Malatt
>
> savedforever@verizon.net
>

 

I would be checking the ground strap that runs from the back of the
engine up to the firewall for rot or a bad connection first.

Do you have a multimeter? Even a cheap one will work to test for a bad
ground.

You start with a voltage reading between the battery 'posts' with the
engine running and the headlights on. For this you leave the positive
meter probe on the post. Then you go from the positive post to the
alternator case with the negative meter probe. The voltage must be
'exactly' the same. If the voltage is different, you have a bad ground
and you can 'walk' the meter to find it.

To check this you move the negative meter probe to the negative cable
clamp and check the voltage. If it is lower than between the two posts,
the battery terminal and clamp need cleaning. Then you take the - probe
to the engine block and check the voltage, then to the alternator
bracket, then to the alternator. (alternator brackets are a sneaky
place for a bad ground)

Then you take the meter negative probe and put it on a bolt on the body
or on the bolt the mesh ground bolts to on the firewall and see.

Where ever you find a voltage drop, you have found a bad connection.

You can walk the meter the other way to see if the positive connections
are good. You go from the post to the clam, then to the solenoid or
relay cable loop, then the solenoid bolt. If you find a difference say
between the cable loop end and the solenoid bolt, that connection is dirty.

Hope this helps,

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

savedforever@verizon.net wrote:
> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.
>
> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced.
> Afterwards we started to experience problems with the
> alternator not charging the battery. We have a brand
> new battery, the old alternator tests out okay and
> they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they
> can't seem to find it. Do you think the voltage regulator
> could be the problem? Or do we need to try another
> alternator?
>
> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?
>
> Rebekah and Wayne Malatt
>
> savedforever@verizon.net
>

 

I would be checking the ground strap that runs from the back of the
engine up to the firewall for rot or a bad connection first.

Do you have a multimeter? Even a cheap one will work to test for a bad
ground.

You start with a voltage reading between the battery 'posts' with the
engine running and the headlights on. For this you leave the positive
meter probe on the post. Then you go from the positive post to the
alternator case with the negative meter probe. The voltage must be
'exactly' the same. If the voltage is different, you have a bad ground
and you can 'walk' the meter to find it.

To check this you move the negative meter probe to the negative cable
clamp and check the voltage. If it is lower than between the two posts,
the battery terminal and clamp need cleaning. Then you take the - probe
to the engine block and check the voltage, then to the alternator
bracket, then to the alternator. (alternator brackets are a sneaky
place for a bad ground)

Then you take the meter negative probe and put it on a bolt on the body
or on the bolt the mesh ground bolts to on the firewall and see.

Where ever you find a voltage drop, you have found a bad connection.

You can walk the meter the other way to see if the positive connections
are good. You go from the post to the clam, then to the solenoid or
relay cable loop, then the solenoid bolt. If you find a difference say
between the cable loop end and the solenoid bolt, that connection is dirty.

Hope this helps,

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

savedforever@verizon.net wrote:
> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.
>
> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced.
> Afterwards we started to experience problems with the
> alternator not charging the battery. We have a brand
> new battery, the old alternator tests out okay and
> they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they
> can't seem to find it. Do you think the voltage regulator
> could be the problem? Or do we need to try another
> alternator?
>
> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?
>
> Rebekah and Wayne Malatt
>
> savedforever@verizon.net
>

 

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, savedforever@verizon.net wrote:

> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.

Good for him!


> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced. Afterwards we
> started to experience problems with the alternator not charging the
> battery. We have a brand new battery, the old alternator tests out okay
> and they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they can't seem to
> find it. Do you think the voltage regulator could be the problem? Or do
> we need to try another alternator?

Ground problems are _very_ common in Jeep vehicles, and the replacement
parts are cheap. Start there.


> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?

This might help, open this link:
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...und_straps.htm

In the second illustration (viewed as if standing in front of the grill)
look for the point highlighted with the large yellow dot and the label
"Dash Panel & Engine Ground Strap". On your Commanche there should be a
bolt with a star-tooth washer and a ring terminal at the end of either a
black wire or a flat braided metal strap. This is the body ground strap.

Then look at the third illustration (this view is as though you are
standing with you chin next to the antenna mount on the right front
fender). Again a yellow dot, this is where the other end of the ground
strap should connect.

/With the key off/ remove the nut or bolt (probably metric), clean all the
contact points, and reassemble. Alternately (or if either end is
broken/missing or you just like belt-and-suspenders) you can get a braided
metal replacement strap in the "Help!" aisle of your local parts retailer
chain store. It doesn't need to be insulated, just get a long one that
will reach.



--
"We began to realize, as we plowed on with the destruction of New Jersey,
that the extent of our American lunatic fringe had been underestimated."
Orson Wells on the reaction to the _War Of The Worlds_ broadcast.

 

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, savedforever@verizon.net wrote:

> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.

Good for him!


> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced. Afterwards we
> started to experience problems with the alternator not charging the
> battery. We have a brand new battery, the old alternator tests out okay
> and they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they can't seem to
> find it. Do you think the voltage regulator could be the problem? Or do
> we need to try another alternator?

Ground problems are _very_ common in Jeep vehicles, and the replacement
parts are cheap. Start there.


> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?

This might help, open this link:
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...und_straps.htm

In the second illustration (viewed as if standing in front of the grill)
look for the point highlighted with the large yellow dot and the label
"Dash Panel & Engine Ground Strap". On your Commanche there should be a
bolt with a star-tooth washer and a ring terminal at the end of either a
black wire or a flat braided metal strap. This is the body ground strap.

Then look at the third illustration (this view is as though you are
standing with you chin next to the antenna mount on the right front
fender). Again a yellow dot, this is where the other end of the ground
strap should connect.

/With the key off/ remove the nut or bolt (probably metric), clean all the
contact points, and reassemble. Alternately (or if either end is
broken/missing or you just like belt-and-suspenders) you can get a braided
metal replacement strap in the "Help!" aisle of your local parts retailer
chain store. It doesn't need to be insulated, just get a long one that
will reach.



--
"We began to realize, as we plowed on with the destruction of New Jersey,
that the extent of our American lunatic fringe had been underestimated."
Orson Wells on the reaction to the _War Of The Worlds_ broadcast.

 

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, savedforever@verizon.net wrote:

> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.

Good for him!


> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced. Afterwards we
> started to experience problems with the alternator not charging the
> battery. We have a brand new battery, the old alternator tests out okay
> and they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they can't seem to
> find it. Do you think the voltage regulator could be the problem? Or do
> we need to try another alternator?

Ground problems are _very_ common in Jeep vehicles, and the replacement
parts are cheap. Start there.


> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?

This might help, open this link:
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...und_straps.htm

In the second illustration (viewed as if standing in front of the grill)
look for the point highlighted with the large yellow dot and the label
"Dash Panel & Engine Ground Strap". On your Commanche there should be a
bolt with a star-tooth washer and a ring terminal at the end of either a
black wire or a flat braided metal strap. This is the body ground strap.

Then look at the third illustration (this view is as though you are
standing with you chin next to the antenna mount on the right front
fender). Again a yellow dot, this is where the other end of the ground
strap should connect.

/With the key off/ remove the nut or bolt (probably metric), clean all the
contact points, and reassemble. Alternately (or if either end is
broken/missing or you just like belt-and-suspenders) you can get a braided
metal replacement strap in the "Help!" aisle of your local parts retailer
chain store. It doesn't need to be insulated, just get a long one that
will reach.



--
"We began to realize, as we plowed on with the destruction of New Jersey,
that the extent of our American lunatic fringe had been underestimated."
Orson Wells on the reaction to the _War Of The Worlds_ broadcast.

 

On Wed, 14 Feb 2007, savedforever@verizon.net wrote:

> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
> miles on it.

Good for him!


> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced. Afterwards we
> started to experience problems with the alternator not charging the
> battery. We have a brand new battery, the old alternator tests out okay
> and they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they can't seem to
> find it. Do you think the voltage regulator could be the problem? Or do
> we need to try another alternator?

Ground problems are _very_ common in Jeep vehicles, and the replacement
parts are cheap. Start there.


> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
> alternator will charge?????
>
> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?

This might help, open this link:
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...und_straps.htm

In the second illustration (viewed as if standing in front of the grill)
look for the point highlighted with the large yellow dot and the label
"Dash Panel & Engine Ground Strap". On your Commanche there should be a
bolt with a star-tooth washer and a ring terminal at the end of either a
black wire or a flat braided metal strap. This is the body ground strap.

Then look at the third illustration (this view is as though you are
standing with you chin next to the antenna mount on the right front
fender). Again a yellow dot, this is where the other end of the ground
strap should connect.

/With the key off/ remove the nut or bolt (probably metric), clean all the
contact points, and reassemble. Alternately (or if either end is
broken/missing or you just like belt-and-suspenders) you can get a braided
metal replacement strap in the "Help!" aisle of your local parts retailer
chain store. It doesn't need to be insulated, just get a long one that
will reach.



--
"We began to realize, as we plowed on with the destruction of New Jersey,
that the extent of our American lunatic fringe had been underestimated."
Orson Wells on the reaction to the _War Of The Worlds_ broadcast.

 

Don't forget that these ground straps often rot from the inside. It may
'look' good so be sure to roll the mesh to see if it disintegrates.

While you are in there it wouldn't be a bad idea to clean and grease any
ground you find. Remember that battery cables have at least two ends.

Mike makes regular use of a jumper cable in his diagnosis procedure also..
"Mike Romain" <romainm@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:45d3425e$0$4873$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshostin g.com...
>I would be checking the ground strap that runs from the back of the engine
>up to the firewall for rot or a bad connection first.
>
> Do you have a multimeter? Even a cheap one will work to test for a bad
> ground.
>
> You start with a voltage reading between the battery 'posts' with the
> engine running and the headlights on. For this you leave the positive
> meter probe on the post. Then you go from the positive post to the
> alternator case with the negative meter probe. The voltage must be
> 'exactly' the same. If the voltage is different, you have a bad ground
> and you can 'walk' the meter to find it.
>
> To check this you move the negative meter probe to the negative cable
> clamp and check the voltage. If it is lower than between the two posts,
> the battery terminal and clamp need cleaning. Then you take the - probe
> to the engine block and check the voltage, then to the alternator bracket,
> then to the alternator. (alternator brackets are a sneaky place for a bad
> ground)
>
> Then you take the meter negative probe and put it on a bolt on the body or
> on the bolt the mesh ground bolts to on the firewall and see.
>
> Where ever you find a voltage drop, you have found a bad connection.
>
> You can walk the meter the other way to see if the positive connections
> are good. You go from the post to the clam, then to the solenoid or relay
> cable loop, then the solenoid bolt. If you find a difference say between
> the cable loop end and the solenoid bolt, that connection is dirty.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
> Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
> Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
> (More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)
>
> savedforever@verizon.net wrote:
>> Here is the problem we are experiencing with Wayne's
>> 88 Jeep Commanche 6 cyl 4WD that has over 300,000
>> miles on it.
>>
>> We recently had the entire clutch assembly replaced.
>> Afterwards we started to experience problems with the
>> alternator not charging the battery. We have a brand
>> new battery, the old alternator tests out okay and
>> they are saying it is a ground wire problem but they
>> can't seem to find it. Do you think the voltage regulator
>> could be the problem? Or do we need to try another
>> alternator?
>>
>> Any ideas, thoughts, advice on how to fix this so the
>> alternator will charge?????
>>
>> We would appreciate anything that you could do! We
>> have already put over $2000 in this truck in the last
>> few months and hate to just let it sit. Help?
>>
>> Rebekah and Wayne Malatt
>>
>> savedforever@verizon.net
>>