With wintertime coming, automobiles tend to suffer, the most basic situation is to have troubles starting your Dodge Ram in the morning with very low temperatures. Generally speaking this is associated with problems recharging the battery of your Dodge Ram . There are some causes that can explain why your battery does not recharge effectively anymore, and in this article we will try to help you to solve this problem that can prevent you from using your car. To accomplish this, first we will explain how recharging your car battery functions, then the different problems of recharging a Dodge Ram, and at last how to recharge an empty car battery.
How does recharging the battery of a Dodge Ram function?
Before we summarize the different problems of recharging the battery on a Dodge Ram , we will explain to you how its recharging system operates so that you can understand the problems you are facing. A car battery functions like a phone battery, it will store energy to start your Dodge Ram , turn on your headlights, play music, lower your power windows… However all these actions will consume energy and it may deplete the energy reserve that your battery can store. To get over this problem, the engineers have developed a element called the alternator , this element will use the energy created by the engine unit of your Dodge Ram to produce energy thanks to a copper coil and a magnet. This energy will recharge the battery of your car . However, consider that this process can just work when your car is running, using electrical elements of your car when it is stopped will decrease the energy reserve of your car. It is considered that a battery of a xxx has a life span of 3 to 5 years.
Problems recharging a Dodge Ram’s battery
We will now describe the different battery charging problems on a Dodge Ram you might be victim of. If your battery is not recharging because there is necessarily a problem in your electrical installation, we will now see the different situations.
Battery charging problem on Dodge Ram: My battery is discharging regardless if I am recharging it with a particular charger
In this first case, it is quite possible that your alternator is dead , in truth, if you control to recharge your battery with a charger and your Dodge Ram to start, the problem most certainly comes from your alternator which should not be able to produce any more current.
Battery charging problem on Dodge Ram: My car shuts off and does not start regardless if I have charged the battery
If you have recharged your battery and you have managed to start your Dodge Ram but it switches off although you are driving and then does not start, the issue with recharging the battery of your Dodge Ram is that your battery no longer holds the charge .
Battery charging problem on Dodge Ram: My battery is discharged although it is new
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If you’ve just bought a battery and it discharges although you’re driving, the problem most probably comes from your alternator. It cannot come from your battery, which is new and consequently holds the charge. The second opportunity is that you have a ground somewhere in your electrical system.
How to solve the problem of battery charging on Dodge Ram?
We will now give you the solutions according to the problem you are facing. Here are the different problems and their solutions:
- Faulty alternator: You can try with simple mechanics to check it with a pressure gauge to discover if it’s producing power. If it doesn’t, changing it is the best solution, depending on your motor you will pay a few hundred euros. This fix is feasible in the event that your alternator is accessible.
- Battery that no longer holds the charge: In this case, the purchase of a new battery is the just realistic solution. In fact, if you have already recharged it but it is still empty because it is good to be replaced, count between 60 and 100 euros depending on your engine.
- Ground in the electrical circuit: If you cannot start your Dodge Ram but your alternator and battery are in good condition, it is possible that you have a ground on your wiring harness and that you lose energy, a check by a car electrician is in this case required.
How to recharge an empty battery of a Dodge Ram
Finally, to recharge the empty battery of a Dodge Ram there are just few solutions, using a battery charger is the most efficient solution, you can find some for 50 to 100 euros at vendors like Oscaro. In any other case you can use cables that will just provide the energy needed to start.
If perhaps you have any additional questions about the Dodge Ram, do not hesitate to consult our Dodge Ram category.
