The voltmeter reads 11 when engine is running in park, and it reads 10 with
headlamps on in park. The codes read 12, 41, 55. From what you've said, I'd
suspect that it's not charging. This has been a good car, and I'd like to
keep it running if I can fix it economically. Thanks for any more feedback.

"Daniel J. Stern" > wrote in message
n.umich.edu...
> On Sat, 1 Jan 2005, john wrote:
>
> > car died. headlights cut out after battery jump on 93 dodge spirit 2.5
L.;
> > engine breaks up as lights dim. had to turn off lights to keep engine
from
> > breaking up. ammeter on dash showed total discharge, no charging going
on.
>
> There is no ammeter on the dash. There is, however, a voltmeter.
>
> > After charging the battery all night, it was still slow to crank engine,
> > and one cell was dead.
>
> One cell was probably dead before the jump start.
>
> > Put in new battery and car ran fine. Ammeter in dash now reads at about
> > 12 v. (or amps) (just below that mark).
>
> VOLTmeter in dash should read higher than 12, but they are not precision
> instruments. For a rough check, turn the ignition key to "on" without
> starting the engine, note the position of the voltmeter needle, then start
> the engine. After approximately 5 seconds, the voltmeter needle should
> jump to a higher reading. If it does not, your alternator is not charging.
>
> You will want to check the flash codes to see if a charging system fault
> has been registered.
>
> To check the computer codes:
>
> With the engine off, switch the ignition key on-off-on-off-on,
> leaving it "ON". Do not
> go to "start", just "on" during this procedure.
>
> Watch the "Check Engine" or "Power Loss" light. It will turn on, then go
> off, then will begin to flash-out any trouble codes that have been stored.
> For instance, if it flashes:
>
> flash <pause> flash flash
> <long pause>
> flash flash flash <pause> flash flash flash flash flash
> <long pause>
> flash flash flash flash flash <pause> flash flash flash flash flash
>
> Then you have a 12 (one flash followed by two) a 35 (three and five) and a
> 55 (five and five). 55 means "end of codes" or, if by itself, "No codes
> stored. Check the codes and report what you find.
>
>
> DS