Alternator on a cummins

[IronOutlaw]

I drove my bosses truck to school the other night. Its an 01 dodge ram with the cummins diesal. I noticed a few mornings before when it was really cold the alternator wouldnt hold a good charge until the truck was warmed up, but the other night it would barely hold the headlights on until it ran for about 5-10 minutes.

Is this normal? I know nothing about diesals but figure those things have to have a hefty alternator since they have 2 batteries, is the alternator slowly going out or is this not a problem.

[YZF]

I'm not criticizing you, just letting you know that its "diesel".

And for the Dodge, there are two TSB about them.

One of them being possibly related.

-Alternator wire connection to the power distribution center can loosen, resulting in electrical fire.

If the connection is bad, causing it to only get somewhat of a charge every now and then. He might check that out.

[IronOutlaw]

I knew it looked funny when I typed it just couldnt figure out what was wrong. lol.
we need a spell check on here.


Ill check all the wire connections tomorrow, it does fine once it warms up though.

[95LT1Z28]

I think cummins' keep cycling the glowplugs for awhile after it is first started. Maybe that was the added drain on the electrical system.

[IronOutlaw]

I think cummins' keep cycling the glowplugs for awhile after it is first started. Maybe that was the added drain on the electrical system.

Could be, everything checked out ok with the wiring and what not. Its also got two brand new batteries, the glow plugs def. could be cycling though, especially if they do it longer in real cold weather.
Im not gonna worry about it, the boss man doesnt seem to care anyways.

[95LT1Z28]

Yeah Id be pretty confident with that bud. I work on military humvees with the 6.2 and 6.5 diesel engines and when its cold and the plugs cycle, the lights dim out on the outside and interior.