I just bought a 2008 GP, 3.8 series III. I am planning on some minor mods over the next year, but right now I am having issues with a Charging System Failure, and Battery save messages coming up in my DIC... this all started with a cold snap (record lows -40 and less) and the windsheild washer not pumping. First thought was cheap cleaner that froze in the resevoir, but its been thawing all day and I even unhooked the washer hose and blew into it, the fluid is not frozen (the pump may still be). And still nothing.
Now I do know this... The charging system is a "variable" charging system. It only charges the battery when it drops below 10V or one of the following systems is active
1)the interpreted fuel rate is greater than 21 g/s and the throttle position is greater than 90%
2) the headlamps are ON, high or low.
3)the wipers ar on for more than 8 sec.
4)the cooling fans are on high speed.
5)the rear defogger is on.
Now, usually the system works fine, and you will never know the transition from not-charging to charging, but something is making it set a code. Other then on eof the above systems not working properly... the only other thing that will set a code is if the system voltage is below 11V or above 16V.
Would a frozen pump draw enough current to drop the system below 11V, the battery meter says it has dropped... but its not only the washer pump button that will set it off, rear defogger, just the wipers, or headlamps will set a CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE codel.
Any thoughts?
