Jeep TJ Wrangler - Electrical Problem - please help

[olistj]

Here is the whole story. My TJ has a dual battery system (Piranha) including a battery monitor (second battery sits besides the brake cylinder). I just swapped my alternator to a recon ZJ with 136 amps (thanks OzJeeper for the idea) and an external regulator, which sits in front of the airbox as the piranha control module. I also have heaps of stuff hanging of the main battery - going on tour, so need to.

Today my voltmeter played tricks on me, it went up to 19 V full right and obviously showed check gauges. When measured by an auto electrician he could only find 14.5 around the car and nowhere the shown 19 V. Also the fan or lights would not go brighter or louder. The piranha battery monitor also showed high charging but the batteries only had 14.5 V

The suggestion from the auto electrician was that the cluster is wrong or the battery monitor. Trav (USA 4x4 - guys you rock !!! they have fixed my car for the big trip without real notice...) gave me another cluster to try and see if that was the problem, still the same. So I went and wanted to check the voltage around the car and obviously got a large spark at the regulator (stupid me ). After about 2 hours and after the RACV guy left I found the fuse which went and replaced it and now the car seems to be going o.k.

Anybody knows why the gauge shows intermittently 19V than goes back to 14.5 and keeps doing that and suddenly it is gone again :?::?:

I have no f... idea and get very anxious about our big trip around Oz which is planed to start next Wednesday. Any suggestions - please

[dirtydannyd]

Had the same problem with my XJ. Turned out that the battery connectors and terminals were dirty. Therefore, at times the altenator was pumping juice but there was no connection to the battery so the gauge would shoot up to 19. Lucky there is a safety in the altenator that limits the voltage to 19V.
So, if you haven't already, try giving your terminals and connectors a GOOD scrub.

[Goatse.AJ]

You could take it to Stockton Beach



Just make sure you're insured

[sholts]

hey their you blokes and certain model jeeps.
quite a few jeeps pend model/years charing is regulated by the Control Module, how ever their can also be another issue where you will maybe have to install another relay behind the cluster as it was a servive bulliten when i used to work at jeep. let me know how you go.