low voltage warning

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by tmb0507, Jan 3, 2015.

  1. tmb0507

    tmb0507 Medium Load Member

    357
    197
    Aug 11, 2012
    Folkston, GA
    0
    So i have started getting low voltage warning during my break every 2 hours i thought maybe my apu or fridge was draining batteries still no change though with not running those so what could be causing this just bad batteries or something else
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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

  3. PackRatTDI

    PackRatTDI Licensed to Ill

    14,765
    22,567
    Jul 15, 2006
    El Chuco, Tejas
    0
    Bad battery or two I'd guess.
     
  4. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    12,431
    25,426
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    If it's an older truck, could be a bad ground somewhere. Make sure the alternator is tight and grounded, or the cab is grounded. Also, don't always trust the dash gauge, and have a shop check the output of the alternator. A battery with a shorted cell will indeed cause all kinds of havoc.
     
  5. tmb0507

    tmb0507 Medium Load Member

    357
    197
    Aug 11, 2012
    Folkston, GA
    0
    I just got it checked out two bad batteries were the culprit
     
    Lepton1 Thanks this.
  6. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    12,431
    25,426
    Apr 16, 2014
    high plains colorado
    0
    Great. It's great when it's something simple like that. I hope all your repairs are that easy. What happens (I was told) is the vibration shakes the material from the plates in the battery, and it settles on the bottom, shorting out the cell. Take care.
     
    Charli Girl and Lepton1 Thank this.
  7. Charli Girl

    Charli Girl Road Train Member

    1,371
    668
    Mar 23, 2013
    Houston,Tx
    0
    I found the " regulator wire" was cut on my alternator , so got that clamped down again, but the bolt is still " wiggly" internally, however it did bring down the voltage, it was over charging. I also had to buy 4 new batteries that it ruined. I have no idea how that got cut :-(
     
    "semi" retired Thanks this.
  8. strollinruss

    strollinruss Road Train Member

    1,366
    1,699
    Jun 5, 2012
    Montgomery, TX
    0
    It's best to go on and replace all the batteries at once. glad you found the wire that was the trouble
     
    Charli Girl Thanks this.
  9. Charli Girl

    Charli Girl Road Train Member

    1,371
    668
    Mar 23, 2013
    Houston,Tx
    0
    Yeah I've always been told that about the batteries but first time I was able to do so :)
    someone on this site addressed my over charging issue on their truck so I went to check mine and sure enough, I had the same problem. It kept blowing my breaker fuses, and those things are not cheap and hard to find! :)
     
  10. G.Anthony

    G.Anthony Road Train Member

    4,564
    5,952
    Dec 10, 2014
    0
    I had something like that happen to me, only no one actually cuts the wires. It was due to corrosion at the connector, and the wire had broken off. To tighten up that internal bolt of course means to open up the alternator. Something you will not do, and frankly I think the shop would just replace the alternator. check whatever wiring you can. If you see slight traces of green, you have corrosion. Have your shop make repairs before this happens again?
     
  11. Charli Girl

    Charli Girl Road Train Member

    1,371
    668
    Mar 23, 2013
    Houston,Tx
    0
    My dealer has put two on thus far, I'm going to check my maint file and see if it's still under warranty
    im not sure if that coming lose will actually warrant a replacement but no harm in asking I guess :-(
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

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