billy ray

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
>>

billy ray

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
>>

billy ray

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
>>

savedforever@verizon.net

thanks! We will give your suggestions a try! We really appreciate it!
Rebekah

savedforever@verizon.net

thanks! We will give your suggestions a try! We really appreciate it!
Rebekah

savedforever@verizon.net

thanks! We will give your suggestions a try! We really appreciate it!
Rebekah

savedforever@verizon.net

thanks! We will give your suggestions a try! We really appreciate it!
Rebekah

savedforever@verizon.net

Thanks! you guys are awesome!

savedforever@verizon.net

Thanks! you guys are awesome!

savedforever@verizon.net

Thanks! you guys are awesome!