power loss

My 1987 T & C wagon has treated me very well since I purchased it 4
years ago. Last night within minutes of leaving my home I noticed the LED
speedometer, gauges, etc. flicker for a second, then go black.
They came back on but dimmer than usual. A minute or two later, the radio
stopped playing for a few seconds, then came back on. At some point the
power loss indicator light came on. Deciding it wasn't worth risking being
stranded somewhere, I went home.

This morning the vehicle won't start. Yeseterday afternoon I took 2 trips 45
minutes each (approx. 30 miles each way including 20 highway miles) so I
figured the alternator should have charged the battery.

Any suggestions.

Thanks.

John

Most likely the alternator is bad. Could also be a bad battery too,
although the description of events and the amount of time it took would
suggest the former.

Good luck.

Bob

"Redlocks" > wrote in message
nk.net...
> My 1987 T & C wagon has treated me very well since I purchased it 4
> years ago. Last night within minutes of leaving my home I noticed the LED
> speedometer, gauges, etc. flicker for a second, then go black.
> They came back on but dimmer than usual. A minute or two later, the radio
> stopped playing for a few seconds, then came back on. At some point the
> power loss indicator light came on. Deciding it wasn't worth risking being
> stranded somewhere, I went home.
>
> This morning the vehicle won't start. Yeseterday afternoon I took 2 trips
45
> minutes each (approx. 30 miles each way including 20 highway miles) so I
> figured the alternator should have charged the battery.
>
> Any suggestions.
>
> Thanks.
>
> John
>
>

On Sun, 10 Apr 2005, Redlocks wrote:

> My 1987 T & C wagon has treated me very well since I purchased it 4
> years ago. Last night within minutes of leaving my home I noticed the
> LED speedometer, gauges, etc. flicker for a second, then go black. They
> came back on but dimmer than usual. A minute or two later, the radio
> stopped playing for a few seconds, then came back on. At some point the
> power loss indicator light came on. Deciding it wasn't worth risking
> being stranded somewhere, I went home. This morning the vehicle won't
> start. Yeseterday afternoon I took 2 trips 45 minutes each (approx. 30
> miles each way including 20 highway miles) so I figured the alternator
> should have charged the battery.

Start with proper diagnosis. Your symptoms sound like a problem caused by
a faulty battery cable.

"Bob Shuman" > wrote in message
...
> Most likely the alternator is bad. Could also be a bad battery too,
> although the description of events and the amount of time it took would
> suggest the former.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Bob
>
> "Redlocks" > wrote in message
> nk.net...
> > My 1987 T & C wagon has treated me very well since I purchased it 4
> > years ago. Last night within minutes of leaving my home I noticed the
LED
> > speedometer, gauges, etc. flicker for a second, then go black.
> > They came back on but dimmer than usual. A minute or two later, the
radio
> > stopped playing for a few seconds, then came back on. At some point the
> > power loss indicator light came on. Deciding it wasn't worth risking
being
> > stranded somewhere, I went home.
> >
> > This morning the vehicle won't start. Yeseterday afternoon I took 2
trips
> 45
> > minutes each (approx. 30 miles each way including 20 highway miles) so I
> > figured the alternator should have charged the battery.
> >
> > Any suggestions.
> >
> > Thanks.
> >
> > John
> >
> >
Could be an alternator fault code set but if the battery isn't getting a
charge you wont be able to read any faults,have the alternator checked for
the proper out put. My guess would be a faulty power module,alternator or
wiring problem.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

> Start with proper diagnosis. Your symptoms sound like a problem >caused by
> a faulty battery cable.

I did, in fact, find that the battery cable was a little loose. I'm awaiting
the arrival of a friend so I can try to jump start the car using his
battery.

John