Voltage Fluctuating

XCRN

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Location
Springfield OH
Driving up north for vacation in my 04 LJ and the “check gauges” light comes on and everything is normal except the volt gauge is moving back and forth from the blue line. Like constantly on the move and does not stay stable. I stopped at a rest area and turned back on and then it just fluctuates non stop between the green lines but no check gauge light. Driving back to our accommodations, check gauge light comes on mid drive and fluctuates between the blue lines again. Is this a sign of something failing like the alternator or loose connections? Everything electronic functions fine and no other issues.

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Make sure your battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure the ground cable at the block is the same. Could be an alternator starting to fail but I doubt it.
 
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Reactions: macleanflood
This happened to me once. Turned out that the positive battery terminal was almost completely cracked through giving it a spotty connection. Cheap and easy fix so I'd check those.