Electrical problem

[shelby85]

Hello i have a 97 powerstroke and in the last few days when it sits the volt gauge reads maybe 10 and when the glow plugs kick in it drops down lower and then it keeps dropping when cranking. after it starts it hangs around 9 volts and all the lights are dim until the gauge kicks back up to about 15 everything is fine until i turn it off and it does it all over again. I have changed the batteries and still does it. Any ideas of what this could be??? Maybe volt regulator or a relay i dont know i dont want to dump all kinds of money into it to find that it will just do the same thing. any ideas would help

[bugman]

Sounds normal. The glow plugs are controled by the PCM and will stay on up to 2 minutes after starting. When they are activated they can draw upwards of 200 amps, that is why the gage stays down until the PCM shuts them off. If you live in a warmer climate and want to put them on a switch so that you can control them all you have to do is intercept one of the small control wires. Either the one that has the 12 volts on it or the ground from the PCM.

Jim

[shelby85]

i know that but i never did it when i first got the truck it just started this within the last few days. its like the alt is not working when started and then all of the sudden it kicks in

[shelby85]

it also turns over slower now than before and its a new starter

[pjwoolw]

Have your batteries load tested. Check the cables to make sure all connections are secure.

Welcome to the Forum!!!!

[shelby85]

batteries are brand new and cables and conections are good and still does it

[pjwoolw]

Well I guess you could have the alternator tested. Most parts stores do that.

Could try a new glow plug relay just for drill.

[shelby85]

yeah that was my next test was to have that tested and i was thinking maybe the charging relay for a shot in the dark