Ok, my dakota won't charge its battery. I've traced it all the way back to the voltage regulator in the ECM. Cracked open the ECM and peeled away a bunch of the funky goo that it is encased in. Now I need to know which of these little buggers is the voltage regulator? Its difficult to clean all the way down to the board, and knowing the location I need to dig would save me an hour or two. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

Ok.. Found a couple of broken solder points and fixed them and still no joy. Traced pin 20 through the board and there is a tiny little box shaped thing with "A3" on it. there are tons of them, seems to be one for every pin coming into the board. I found that if I short the two sides of the box, the alternator starts charging big time. I need to know what the heck this "A3" thing is, and if there is some way of replacing it? Apparently it is not functioning. All the others tested with some continuity. This one has zero continuity.

 

I would think to get what you need you'd need another ecm. I bought one from the local junkyard when I was having alternator issues but it wasn't the problem so I have an extra. let me know if you need it...

 

Is it compatible with a 1991 V8 Auto dakota LE? How quick can you get it to Texas?

Also, what ended up being wrong with your alternator if it wasn't that? I'd hate to do the same thing you did! I don't mind learning from other's mistakes..

 

it was the fusible links under the pdc making it overcharge.

 

my ecm is off a 95 4x4 318 automatic. I don't know if there's a difference between the magnum engine and the le computer wise, but someone else on here would be able to tell you.

 

No it is not the same. For the 91 5.2 V8 it is a 1 year only engine.