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Columbia low voltage reading

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by Ei, Jun 30, 2014.

  1. Jun 30, 2014 #1
    Ei

    Ei Light Load Member

    79
    7
    Aug 18, 2013
    Northeast
    0
    I have a 2005 with a 12.7 series 60, I have been experiencing low voltage on the cluster display as low as 13.1-13.8 recently back and forth, this morning did not want to start, got batteries check out currently were 650CCA each, 2 were good, other 2 dead, replace with 2 new ones of 925CCA, truck started, I get reading of 13.8/13.9 at the alternator with AC and lights on, but on the cluster it reads 13.2 with the ac/lights only goes as high as 13.5, all batteries are tight, post are clean, I dont know where to continue looking, is the alternator going bad or on its way out? does anyone know where the digital cluster gets its voltage reading from? thanks for any info...
     
    Ei, Jun 30, 2014
    Ei, Jun 30, 2014
    #1
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  3. Jun 30, 2014 #2
    Freightlinerbob

    Freightlinerbob Road Train Member

    2,234
    1,316
    Jan 15, 2012
    West Coast B.C.
    0
    I have the same year truck. Do you have a remote jumper post on the firewall beside the washer fluid tank? Run a jumper cable from there to the Alternator positive stud and see if anything changes. If it does, I guess the cable from alternator to starter is weak.

    Edit: my cable corroded and started showing progressively lower voltage until it stopped charging altogether. Both ends looked good but it corroded inside the red plastic cover.

    Cable goes from alt to starter to batteries.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2014
    Freightlinerbob, Jun 30, 2014
    Freightlinerbob, Jun 30, 2014
    #2
  4. Jun 30, 2014 #3
    ReeferOhio

    ReeferOhio Medium Load Member

    596
    557
    Nov 29, 2010
    Ohio
    0
    I have the exact same year only with a C-15 had the same problem, only it would read like 13.6 volts at idle then drop all the way down to 11.9 during a pull. I took it to freight liner, they think they fixed a short so now my volts are 14.0 at idle and drop all the way to 13.2 during a pull. Still does not seem right. They replaced a solenoid on the firewall and cleaned connections.
     
    ReeferOhio, Jun 30, 2014
    ReeferOhio, Jun 30, 2014
    #3
    Neshot123 Thanks this.
  5. Jul 1, 2014 #4
    Truck Smarter

    Truck Smarter Bobtail Member

    30
    17
    Jun 26, 2014
    Dallas, Texas
    0
    It is a freightliner so check your grounds. Battery to frame rail and the little one on the drivers side cab to frame. And might as well do starter to frame while you are doing this. You would be amazed at how many electrical problems are caused by bad grounds.
     
    Truck Smarter, Jul 1, 2014
    Truck Smarter, Jul 1, 2014
    #4
  7. Jul 1, 2014 #5
    Ei

    Ei Light Load Member

    79
    7
    Aug 18, 2013
    Northeast
    0
    Bump, Im getting 14.0 volts at the alternator and also at the post where the starter cable is ...
     
    Ei, Jul 1, 2014
    Ei, Jul 1, 2014
    #5
  8. May 25, 2020 #7
    mickutzu2011

    mickutzu2011 Bobtail Member

    16
    0
    Oct 25, 2016
    0
    Was the solenoid?
     
    mickutzu2011, May 25, 2020
    mickutzu2011, May 25, 2020
    #7
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