'90 Chrysler Le Baron w/charging problem

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Chris - 17 Jan 2007 01:25 GMT

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

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Scott Dorsey - 17 Jan 2007 01:28 GMT

> 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.

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

>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
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>terminals presumably tight as they should be, it sometimes *clicks* a
>few times before starting.

These are all probably unrelated.

> 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?

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

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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Chris - 17 Jan 2007 01:42 GMT

> 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.

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.

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Scott Dorsey - 17 Jan 2007 01:57 GMT

>> 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
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>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.

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

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"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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Chris - 19 Jan 2007 00:29 GMT

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!

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