Just replaced batteries, and now alternator is not working?

Discussion in 'Freightliner Forum' started by PermanentTourist, Jun 7, 2020.

  1. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    Just replaced the four batteries on my 2014 cascadia, did it myself.

    Now the alternator is not charging???
    The voltage stays steady at 12.6V, whether truck is running or not.

    It was working fine before the new batteries, showing 14V.

    The batteries are all installed correctly, exactly the same as they were before.

    Is there a fuse or something that I might have blown while installing the batteries? Anything else?
     
    magoo68 Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

    13,574
    34,881
    May 25, 2017
    under a shade tree
    0
    possible that you need to remove, fully clean the negative/ground connections.

    also possible that a hot wire touched ground, and shorted out that alternator, maybe even some fusible links or tripped circuit breakers as well
     
    PermanentTourist Thanks this.
  4. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    Thanks for the advice.

    I just figured it out fixed it - there is a small 5a fuse called "alternator remote sense" inside a small fuse box on the firewall. I blew it probably when I touched the connectors to the wrong terminals while installing the batteries.

    Replaced the little fuse, and all good now. 14V. Yay.
     
    Rideandrepair, magoo68 and buddyd157 Thank this.
  5. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

    13,574
    34,881
    May 25, 2017
    under a shade tree
    0
    yup, always possible to touch a hot wire to ground
     
    PermanentTourist Thanks this.
  6. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

    29,251
    159,883
    Jul 7, 2015
    Canuckistan
    0
    Exactly what I was going to suggest lol. Glad you got it figured.
     
    PermanentTourist and magoo68 Thank this.
  7. magoo68

    magoo68 Road Train Member

    3,393
    5,385
    Jun 11, 2011
    st malo mb canada
    0
    Thanks for update that might help others
     
    PermanentTourist Thanks this.
  8. PermanentTourist

    PermanentTourist Heavy Load Member

    749
    881
    Nov 9, 2016
    48 states + Canada
    0
    Yeah, it's especially iffy when you are trying to shove new batteries under that whole 4-battery electrical interconnection grid thing. Definitely were a couple of moments of Sparky Sparks. Glad that little fuse was there to keep anything more important from burning out.
     
  9. Motto

    Motto Light Load Member

    102
    126
    Apr 10, 2020
    0
    What alternator do you have ? Brand and model number?
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.