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Alternator not charging battery

caissiel

New Member
Aug 10, 2020
5
4
Truck Year
2015
I had a dead battery one day and could not start. This happened after the battery light was on and the charging seam to operate at 13.5 Volts. To me there was no rush but the battery did discharge.
Code U0120 was found and I looked for bad connection to alternator
Located the problem at the Alternator Control connection, the wire was broken at the plug. also the wire ends had green ends telling me it was a long time failure. being in the 10F temperature I guess it left me with a bad battery.
I did repair the connection by using the failed one and a crimp connector. Its a one wire connector, so only one connection was much simpler to repair.
I did look everywhere for this connector and no way i could find any supplier, will check with dealer after covid lockdown.
Anyway my surprise is that a $60K truck is being controlled and operated with a 22Ga wire that is covered with heavy temp protection and left dangling down to be broken due to strain. I added a longer wire and did a loop not to load the connection.
Guess I just improved my truck to not fail again.
 

biodiesel

Active Member
Nov 24, 2020
179
71
Truck Year
2015
Does our changing system adjust charge rate based on temperature or does it charge at a flat rate? @TC Diesel
 

TC Diesel

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2016
2,448
691
Truck Year
2015
Depends on Year, each Year the battery detection software gets More complex. So I really don't know.
What I do know is never add to any circuit, Start adding after market products like head lamp or tail lamp bulbs plus add lighting, New after market Radio and its only time before controls on the dash stop working, Either factory Auxiliary switches or add power distribution box like the one's Painless has.
 

biodiesel

Active Member
Nov 24, 2020
179
71
Truck Year
2015
Depends on Year, each Year the battery detection software gets More complex. So I really don't know.
What I do know is never add to any circuit, Start adding after market products like head lamp or tail lamp bulbs plus add lighting, New after market Radio and its only time before controls on the dash stop working, Either factory Auxiliary switches or add power distribution box like the one's Painless has.

That's good to know about the sensitivity. I'll for sure use auxiliary switches or a power distribution box. It's good thing we have you around, TC Diesel.
 
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