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	Fault Code 44 - Battery temp sensor volts out of range
	OBD1 DTC's for 1994-1997 Rams with Gas Engines
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  Code 44 is set by a problem in the charging system. It could indicate an over charge, undercharge, bad relay, bad battery temperature sensor, or shorted battery cell. NOTE: The PCM uses an air-cooled resistor to sense the incoming air temperature. This information is fed to the logic module and is used to control the duty cycle of the field current in the alternator. The battery voltage is sensed by the logic module -- there is an internal takeoff from the wire feeding the NVRAM keep-alive power circuit which is fed to a voltage comparator. So...if you lose the feed to keep RAM information stored when the engine's off, you also lose battery voltage sensing.

1.   Turn the ignition switch OFF use a digital voltmeter to measure the voltage at the battery terminals. The meter should indicate about 12.5 V and not less than 12.0 volts.

2.   With the key off, turn the headlights on and measure the battery post voltage. If the reading drops below 11.5 Volts,  the battery should be taken to an auto parts store and put on a load tester. A bad cell will sometimes set code 44 and cause drivability problems.

3.    With the headlights still ON, measure the voltage between each battery terminal and its battery post. A voltage difference greater than 0.1 V indicates that the terminal connection is corroded - remove the terminal from the post, clean both, grease them with petroleum jelly, and reinstall the terminal(s). Re-test to verify that each terminal has a good connection.

3.    Start the engine - the meter should read 13.8 - 14.5 volts. If the voltage is below 13.8V, the battery is not charging.

    Measure the voltage at the back of the alternator output (the large wire terminal)

• if the voltage at the alternator terminal is more than 0.25 Volts higher than the battery voltage, the connection from the alternator to the battery is not good. The charge lead from from the alternator runs to the Power Distribution Center (PDC), through a fuse link, then to the battery. A loose or corroded connection anywhere in this wiring will cause the battery to under charge.
• If the voltage at the back of the alternator is less than 13.8 volts, rev the engine and see if the voltage rises.
  • If the voltage does not rise, check the ASD relay circuit in the PDC (code 41 diagnostics)
  • If it does, the alternator is weak, the belt is slipping, or the battery has a shorted cell.

4.    Turn the engine off, set the voltmeter to measure AC volts, and take a reading at the battery terminals. Now start the engine and measure the voltage at the alternator output - it should be almost identical to the voltage measured at the battery with the engine off. If the readings differ by more than 1 volt, there is a problem with the alternator diodes.

This page was edited on: May 3, 2004