Chrysler 1998 Viper RT/10 Owner's Manual page 280

8C - 4 CHARGING SYSTEIVI
S R
D I A G N O S I S A N D T E S T I N G ( C o n t i n u e d )
PREPARATION
(1) Determine i f any DTC exist. To determine a
DTC, refer to On-Board Diagnostics i n this group.
For repair, refer to the appropriate Powertrain Diag-
nostic Procedures manual.
(2) Before starting test, make sure battery is i n
good condition and is fully-charged. See Group 8A,
Battery for more information.
(3) Check condition of battery cables at battery.
Clean i f necessary.
(4) Perform the previous O u t p u t Wire Resistance
Test (voltage drop test). This w i l l ensure clean and
t i g h t generator/battery electrical connections.
(5) Be sure the generator drive belt is properly
tensioned. Refer to Group 7, Cooling System for
information.
(6) A volt/amp tester equipped w i t h both a battery
load control (carbon pile rheostat) and an inductive-
type pickup clamp (ammeter probe) w i l l be used for
this test. Refer to operating instructions supplied
w i t h tester. When using a-tester equipped w i t h a n
inductive-type clamp, removal of w i r i n g at the gener-
ator w i l l not be necessary.
(7) Start the engine and allow i t to reach operating
temperature.
(8) Shut engine off.
(9) T u r n off a l l electrical accessories and a l l vehicle
lighting.
(10) Connect the volt/amp tester leads to the bat-
tery. Be sure the carbon pile rheostat control is i n the
O P E N or OFF position before connecting leads. See
Load Test i n Group 8A, Battery for more information.
Also refer to the operating instructions supplied w i t h
test equipment.
(11) Connect the inductive clamp (ammeter probe).
Refer to the operating instructions supplied w i t h test
equipment.
(12) I f volt/amp tester is not equipped w i t h a n
engine tachometer, connect a separate tachometer to
the engine.
TEST 1
(1) Perform the previous test Preparation.
(2) F u l l y engage the p a r k i n g brake.
(3) Start engine.
(4) B r i n g engine speed to 2500 r p m .
(5) W i t h engine speed held at 2500 r p m , slowly
adjust t h e rheostat control (load) on the tester to
obtain t h e highest amperage reading. Do not allow
voltage to drop below 12 volts.. Record the reading.
T h i s l o a d t e s t m u s t b e p e r f o r m e d w i t h i n 15 sec-
onds to p r e v e n t damage to test equipment. O n
certain brands of test equipment, this load w i l l be
applied automatically. Refer to the operating manual
supplied w i t h test equipment.
(6) The ammeter reading must meet the M i n i m u m
Test Amps specifications as displayed i n the Genera-
tor Ratings chart. This can be found i n the Specifica-
tions section at the end of this group. A label stating
a p a r t reference number is attached to the generator
case. O n some engines this label may be located on
the bottom of the case. Compare this reference n u m -
ber t o the Generator Ratings chart.
(7) Rotate the load control to the OFF position.
(8) Continue holding engine speed at 2500. I f EVR
circuitry is OK, amperage should drop below 15-20
amps. W i t h a l l electrical accessories and vehicle
l i g h t i n g off, this could take several minutes of engine
operation. I f amperage d i d not drop, refer to the
appropriate Powertrain Diagnostic Procedures man-
ual for testing.
(9) Remove volt/amp tester.
I f m i n i m u m amperage could not be met, proceed to
Test 2. This test w i l l determine i f the generator is
faulty, or i f EVR circuitry is defective.
T E S T 2
(1) Perform the previous test preparation.
(2) F u l l y engage the p a r k i n g brake.
(3) Connect one end of a j u m p e r w i r e to a good
ground. Connect the other end of j u m p e r wire to the
generator field driver (-) terminal. The 2 field termi-
nals (+ and -) are located on the back of the genera-
tor (Fig. 1). To locate and identify the (-) t e r m i n a l
and circuit, refer to Group 8W, W i r i n g Diagrams.
Another way to identify the (-) t e r m i n a l is to start
the engine and measure voltage at both field termi-
nals. The (+) t e r m i n a l w i l l show battery voltage
(12.5-14.5 volts). The (-) t e r m i n a l w i l l show 3-5 volts
less t h a n battery voltage.
C A U T I O N : D o not c o n n e c t t h e j u m p e r g r o u n d w i r e
to t h e g e n e r a t o r field s o u r c e (+) field t e r m i n a l . D a m -
a g e t o e l e c t r i c a l s y s t e m c o m p o n e n t s m a y result.
Connecting the jumper wire w i l l remove the volt-
age regulator circuitry from the test. I t w i l l also gen-
erate a D T C .
(4) Start engine. I m m e d i a t e l y after starting,
reduce engine speed to idle. This w i l l prevent any
electrical accessory damage from h i g h voltage.
(5) Adjust carbon pile rheostat (load) and engine
speed i n slow increments u n t i l a speed o f 1250 r p m ,
and a voltmeter reading of 15 volts i s . obtained.
Immediately record ammeter reading. Do not apply
load to system longer t h a n 15 seconds as damage to
test equipment may result.
C A U T I O N : W h e n a d j u s t i n g r h e o s t a t l o a d , d o n o t
a l l o w v o l t a g e to r i s e a b o v e 16 v o l t s . D a m a g e to t h e
battery a n d e l e c t r i c a l s y s t e m c o m p o n e n t s m a y
r e s u l t .