Alternator control

[oldford]

Customer is complaining that the alternator is not charging the battery when the AEM ecu is used.
When he changes back to the standard ecu the alternator is charging and the warning light on the dash extinguishes.
So, the wiring is probably correct. Can't find much about the alternator except that is connected to pin B10.
Do I need to setup something in the software or is there a problem with the AEM ecu?

[BoostedV10]

AEM issue..... I have run across this more than a few times in the past. I would make sure the latest updates have been performed on the AEM. Also make sure the unit has good power supply and the updated grounding kit. If the charging issue is still present, you can switch to an early "Gen I" alternator as these were internally regulated. You will have to change the wiring the car to use the other alternator. .

There are other ways around this issue as well but this it the free advice 

[oldford]

Thanks for the advice. Ecu was manufactured early this year, so for now I assume it's the latest version and firmware.
Extra ground I have to check. Good point, because customer build the engine into the car.

[Vitor]

Worst case you have to run a early turbo mopar external regulator.

VR-125

Then you can use a spare output to disable alternator at high rpm (similar to OE).

V

[oldford]

I wasn't planning on disabling the Alternator at high rpm's yet.
The car is used in Germany and will do high rpm's for extended periods of time.
There are still a lot of highways where there is no speed limit at all.
But thanks for the suggestion.

[oldford]

Finally found out what the real trouble was.
First of all customer told me a wrong story. The problem is that the alternator light is not on when the ignition is switched on.
So, the concern of the customer is, what happens if the alternator fails, will it lit?

Have been e-mailing with AEM and at first they told me, yes, we control the alternator.
Now the word is that the AEM ecu DOES NOT CONTROL the alternator light.
I do not call this plug-and-play. If the original ecu controls the light, so should a plug-and-play ecu.
Or it shoud be in BIG RED letters on the website that it doesn't.
I am not amuzed.

[Vitor]

Light is most likely controlled by some output.

We have similar setup in the neon, PCm controls the alternator field and as such controls the function of the alternator light.

I used one of the outputs to drive the lamp.

Setup / Advanced / used defined PW output

Set input to battery voltage and adjust PW so that batt light turns on if it falls below certain voltage. I think I have mine set around 11 volts.

You can then route output to any available ones you have. May require repining.

C16
Gen Lamp Driver (98-02 Only)
Idle #8
Output
Available Stepper

According to manual, its wired, may need need to configure the output as shown. In your case, using output Idle 7/8.

[oldford]

Thanks for the effort, but the helpdesk of AEM told me that you do not need to configure/setup anything for the alternator control - which is something different than the warning light for this car. Then when I kept asking questions and inquired about a repair under warranty they told me the AEM ecu DOES NOT control the warning light.

[Vitor]

The point is you can control it.

[oldford]

But the customer complains his warning light is not working when switched on. And I haven't got an answer what will happen if the alternator fails. Customer is worried about that, because he's using a very small battery. And you know, the customer is always right.

[Vitor]

AEM tech helped me set up that PW table.

You adjust the threshold so it works like stock.

It takes input voltage and uses it to drive the PW function.

It voltage falls below the threshold, but output is activated and light turns on. I also have a very small battery, Odyssey PC680. It's small change to the configuration and if the PW function is not used for something else, easy to do. As I have it setup now, when you key ON, I think it turns the ALT light on, once its running the light turns off. If I disable the alternator, the light turns back on.

Output configuration is not very flexible, but can be massaged to do things we need/want.

Vitor

[oldford]

O.K., I understand now. I will try this the next time the car is in the workshop.