Alternator/Generator HELP!

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:31 pm

I realize that this may need to be in the electronic section, but more people viewing here, so can we please keep it here for a while, Thanks.

I checked the wiring diagrahm for the 07 and 04, 05, & 06's KJ's coming out of the alternators. There seams to be a vast difference.
Troy, if you can chime in on this i would greatly apprieciate it.

The 06, like the 04 below, has a 2 wire plug. One wire, the 18 guage black one is a ground. the other, the dark green/brown 16 guage wire is the "Gen Filed Control" wire. I am assuming that this is the wire that tells the generator/alternator to start charging from the Powertrain Control Module.

An image from an 04 FSM to show difference:

The 07 also has a two wire plug. A 16 guage Brown and Green wire that is the "Gen Field Control" wire same as above. The second wire is a 22 guage light blue wire that is labled the "Gen Sense" lead.

WTF is a "Gen Sense"?

I am concerned as to the safety of my PCM if I splice in the plug i got from the earlier KJ so I can install the Mean Green Alt/Gen. Does anybody have anything to add to this.

I have the mean green 202 amp alt and i would love to use it. but i do not want to cook anything.

Is it safe to do this splice?

The chrysler 160 amp alt is about the same price as the mean green but i give up over 40 amps.

Troy or Tom or anybody, HELP!!!!

Or can anybody point into the right direction to find out? Mean Green is SLOWLY looking into this for me, but I am not their only customer so I am low on the priority list.

Freshmud · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:46 pm

thats just plain confusing

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:57 pm

I agree. It is confusing but if you stare at it long enough it turns into elvis....

IF anybody has a 2006 FSM, can you post the coresponding page from section 8w-20, that shows the generator and the two leads? Let me check something on that and it might go far to answering these questions.
Thanks.

tommudd · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:24 pm

I see Elvis as well, he did not leave the building......

OK now you have me confused as well, I am looking through what I have here but need to leave soon for an appointment , will follow up later

C co Crusader 2/127 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:41 pm

fist of all which year kj do you want to put it in. An what year is the alt you want to use made for?

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 2:42 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

I agree. It is confusing but if you stare at it long enough it turns into elvis....

IF anybody has a 2006 FSM, can you post the coresponding page from section 8w-20, that shows the generator and the two leads? Let me check something on that and it might go far to answering these questions.
Thanks.

06 fsm:
http://colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/

also, what form is your 07 FSM in?

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:16 pm

Okay, I know this is confusing, so to re-cap...

The Mean Green Alt/gen is listed for ALL KJ's, they thought. But really only lists the 02-06 models. (model MG1387)

It seams that chrysler did some changing for the 07's in anticapation of the 3.7 for the new KK's, or so I am finding out.

Anyway this alt/gen (model # MG1387) is spec'ed for all 02-06 3.7L gas engines. There are actually three conectors. A big ol' fat red one for straight to the battery and a plug with 2 wires for PCM monitoring. It is the plug with 2 wires I am trying to nail down.

I have an 07 Limited with a 3.7L Gasser and auto tranny. It has a stock 136 amp alt/gen. I want to install the MG1387 in it's place. I have aquired a plug from a 05 3.7L that will interface with the MG1387. I am inquiring about the differences between the wiring diagrams of the old one i show above and the one from my 07 FSM and wether or not I will fry something important IF i splice in the 05 plug in place of the existing plug and fire up that 202 amp alt/gen.

The FSM I have for my 07 is the version on DVD from DC that has all the fancy wiring diagrams in color.

Difference in the plugs, to help confuse even more:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:18 pm

Sir Sam wrote:

WoodysKJ wrote:

I agree. It is confusing but if you stare at it long enough it turns into elvis....

IF anybody has a 2006 FSM, can you post the coresponding page from section 8w-20, that shows the generator and the two leads? Let me check something on that and it might go far to answering these questions.
Thanks.

06 fsm:
http://colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/

also, what form is your 07 FSM in?

Are these FSM's for both gasser and the CRD's or just the CRD's?

Frostednutz · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:44 pm

you wont cook anything as long as you up the ground from the battery, the power wire from the battery to the alternator and the engine ground (not sure were it is) with at least 2 gauge for a 200 amp alternator. if the alternator has an adjustible external regulator make sure it's set to put out 14.4 volts or you'll fry stuff. if you can make room you can go with a duel alternator set up. just run the car off the stock alternator and the heavy duty electronics off the custom made alternator. adding a second battery only helps when the car is off (starting, alarms, and what not) and also creates another load on the alternator when the car is on. hope this helps.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:59 pm

Frostednutz wrote:

you wont cook anything as long as you up the ground from the battery, the power wire from the battery to the alternator and the engine ground (not sure were it is) with at least 2 gauge for a 200 amp alternator. if the alternator has an adjustible external regulator make sure it's set to put out 14.4 volts or you'll fry stuff. if you can make room you can go with a duel alternator set up. just run the car off the stock alternator and the heavy duty electronics off the custom made alternator. adding a second battery only helps when the car is off (starting, alarms, and what not) and also creates another load on the alternator when the car is on. hope this helps.

I think you missed the point, Besides the regulator is in the PCM. The 06 and earlier 2 pole plug for the gassers has a ground and a feed to the PCM. As seen in the diagram for the 04. the new plug on my 07 appears to have BOTH leads feed into the PCM.

DaveKJ02 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:51 pm

Same thing. Follow S110 and you'll see.

Sir Sam · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:13 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

Sir Sam wrote:

WoodysKJ wrote:

I agree. It is confusing but if you stare at it long enough it turns into elvis....

IF anybody has a 2006 FSM, can you post the coresponding page from section 8w-20, that shows the generator and the two leads? Let me check something on that and it might go far to answering these questions.
Thanks.

06 fsm:
http://colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ/

also, what form is your 07 FSM in?

Are these FSM's for both gasser and the CRD's or just the CRD's?

both.

WoodysKJ wrote:

The FSM I have for my 07 is the version on DVD from DC that has all the fancy wiring diagrams in color.

Is it in PDF format or?

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Fri Jan 18, 2008 10:36 pm

Maybe I’m a little LOST, but why does he want a bigger Alternator? I’ve got an 07, so this is why I’m interested. I may have to keep up with the Jones Family. :lol:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jan 19, 2008 10:44 am

First: The FSM I have is not in PDF format, It is in a Microsoft Explorer format that uses the old SVG viewer format to illustrate the wiring diagrams. The dvd was like 150.00 bucks where the printed version was over 330.00.

When i ordered it they said all i needed was MS Internet explorer. But they didn't bother to tell me that I had to be running WINDOWS!. So On my mac I have virtual PC and all this other crap just to see my FSM. GOD I HATE WINDOWS!!!!!

Now the bigger alt/gen question. The OEM alt/gen works great for all the stuff they put on in the factory. By Chryslers own admission the rene's with the lights get the 160 amp alt/gen. I have the 136. Works fine until u add extras like 1,000 wats of lights, winch and other toys. When the OEM alt/gen is running at driving speeds the PCM tells it to keep the battery charges as it is used and thus it runs at a higher output. When at idle it dials down to somewhere around 50% capacity or lower. that is why your headlights dim at a stop sign. I know you guys are saying OPTIMA, i'll get to that part, just hold on.

Mean Green makes a High output alt/gen for the 02-06 KJ's ( and anything with the 3.7Lgasser) When it runs it not only charges the battery but it helps with the toys. One big difference is that when it idles it does not dial down as far as the OEM's. Now this is where the Optima comes in. That battery will power the toys while the MG1387 will keep the battery healthy. The combination of the two keeps all my toys running without dimming.

Now the problem with the 07 (more an issue that a problem, so far) is that chrysler seams to have changed the wiring to the PCM and thus created a possible problem with the high output alt/gen.

I am proud to bring this issue of the 07's to light for the first time (NOT)!!!

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Jan 19, 2008 12:59 pm

Thanks Woody for the explanation and figuring all this out before the rest of us 07’s get to that point. You would think it would be cheaper for the manufacture to stick with one type of alternator, especially for one engine size. Then the switch-a-roo with the wiring is an added bonus for us 07’s. Fun times! Anyway, great information and keep up the good work!

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Mon Jan 21, 2008 3:09 pm

No problem. It looks like it wont be possible to use this on my KJ.

Give MG a little while to come up with an alternative to stock for the 07's.

I do have a pickle. Long story short... The credit card I used to buy the alt had to be cancelled due to fraud found on it through another vendor. So I am not able to get a credit for the part when sending it back. MG is looking into sending me a check for it AFTER I pay shipping back to them.

It is listed in the parts for sale section.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:24 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

No problem. It looks like it wont be possible to use this on my KJ.

Give MG a little while to come up with an alternative to stock for the 07's.

I do have a pickle. Long story short... The credit card I used to buy the alt had to be cancelled due to fraud found on it through another vendor. So I am not able to get a credit for the part when sending it back. MG is looking into sending me a check for it AFTER I pay shipping back to them.

It is listed in the parts for sale section.

Sounds kinda like a shady deal to me. It is false advertising to say it fits 2002-2007 KJ’s when it does not. I think they should have to pay for the returned shipping.

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 3:56 pm

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Sounds kinda like a shady deal to me. It is false advertising to say it fits 2002-2007 KJ’s when it does not. I think they should have to pay for the returned shipping.

The are sending me a call tag for the return shipping. And it was not false advertising. They never said it fit a 2007. Just 02-06. They have not gotten to testing on a 2007 or 2008 yet. so they sold it to me on a hope and a prayer that chrysler didn not change anything, which we all know they did.

I think you are blowing this out fo proportion. They have been great to work with, just difficult to get to answer the phone of sometimes.

Oh by the way.

It is nolonger for sale.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:57 pm

WoodysKJ wrote:

dieselenthusiast wrote:

Sounds kinda like a shady deal to me. It is false advertising to say it fits 2002-2007 KJ’s when it does not. I think they should have to pay for the returned shipping.

The are sending me a call tag for the return shipping. And it was not false advertising. They never said it fit a 2007. Just 02-06. They have not gotten to testing on a 2007 or 2008 yet. so they sold it to me on a hope and a prayer that chrysler didn not change anything, which we all know they did.

I think you are blowing this out fo proportion. They have been great to work with, just difficult to get to answer the phone of sometimes.

Oh by the way.

It is nolonger for sale.

You quote, “The Mean Green Alt/gen is listed for ALL KJ's” gave me the impression that they advertised the product to fit 2002 - 2007, that’s why I was thinking it was false advertising. That is good news that the manufacture might make one for the newer 07 KJ’s and whatever else Chrysler fitted the new alternator for. Keep us posted!

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Jan 23, 2008 8:29 am

Who got lucky with your current alternator Woody?

Alternator/Generator HELP!

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