'90 Chrysler Le Baron w/charging problem

If I put a meter across the battery terminals, it reads about 12.3 volts w/the motor running. But it reads at least 12.5 with the motor off. The car is kind of funky in general electrically - sometimes the tach and speedometer don't show anything (when in motion or revving the engine). Radio doesn't work. I just started this thing up after about a year, and previously there were 2 error codes stored (and at one point it stop starting altogether). The check engine light comes on, but I haven't checked for what codes are there now. With the battery terminals presumably tight as they should be, it sometimes *clicks* a few times before starting. Someone told me I could have bed grounds to the computer (the one under the hood), but I pulled the computer out, and all that is connected to is is a connector. Is the computer grounded through that? Halp.

3.0 liter V6
Reply to
Chris
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So, there is zero charging, and the alternator is not doing anything at all.

The car is kind of funky in general electrically - sometimes the

These are all probably unrelated.

Yes. Follow the ground line from that connector. It is tied to the chassis. I bet, in fact, there are a bunch of chassis tie points that are corroded and not making good contact. I would certainly make sure all the grounds are solid before worrying about the charging.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

Any clue where I'll find the ground wires (that is where they connect to the chassis)? I haven't studied it yet, but there's are just wires coming off that connector, then they disappear into a harness.

Reply to
Chris

Nope, I don't have a shop manual for it. You will save HOURS of time if you get the shop manual.

--scott

Reply to
Scott Dorsey

I have an announcement to make: I'm a total idiot. I never would have guessed that most of these problems were due to blown fuses. 2 15 amp fuses were blown, so I replaced them, and the charging system seems to be working properly (14.35+ volts read at the battery terminals). The fan comes on now too. Oi vay. How I make things so complicated!

Reply to
Chris

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