2000 Durango 4.7L check gauge issue.
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Veteran
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 405
Likes: 29
From: Sun Valley, NV
Saying it again, don't let them check alternator while in the vehicle. You'll get all kinds of answers. Last time I did that, I was told it was a bad regulator (PCM). Took off the same alternator they had just tested and brought it to them. They confirmed that it was bad on the machine.
Steve
Amateur
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Indy
Hey all,
Well, I'm back again looking for advice...
Little background, my '00 Durango Red had an issue about a month ago while driving up and around Lake Tahoe. The cluster would flash the infamous "check gauges" and the volt meter would be pegged to 18v. We would stop, shut it down and let it rest for about 5 minutes, fire it back up and every thing was peachy. Flash forward a couple of days and my wife was driving Red to work and she stopped for an energy drink on her way to work and it wouldn't start. AAA was called for a jump start and when the tech applied the jump box, Red fired right up but there was a puff of "smoke" from the alternator. He had her shut it off immediately and he checked, no more smoke from the alternator and he re-jumped it and she was able to limp it back home (5 miles or so) and I took her to work in our '01 Durango (her baby, but I'm fighting the ac and blend doors on it). Long story short I replaced the alternator with a 136 amp one from Napa. Fast forward to yesterday (Sunday)...we were at my folks house in Grass Valley and Red basically sat from late Thursday to Sunday afternoon in the heat. We left for home at about 5pm and the check gauges came back on this time showing NO VOLTAGE on the gauge. Again shut it off and upon restart it ran beautifully....approx 14 amp showing on the gauge all the way home to Reno. She drives it to work today and the check gauges pops on and the volt gauge again shows zero. I'm leaning towards a bad alternator, thankfully I got the lifetime warranty..
Question I have is, I missing something? I am going to get the multi meter out in the morning to check it and then have the alternator checked in the vehicle....any other suggestions?
ThanKS in advance
Steve
Well, I'm back again looking for advice...
Little background, my '00 Durango Red had an issue about a month ago while driving up and around Lake Tahoe. The cluster would flash the infamous "check gauges" and the volt meter would be pegged to 18v. We would stop, shut it down and let it rest for about 5 minutes, fire it back up and every thing was peachy. Flash forward a couple of days and my wife was driving Red to work and she stopped for an energy drink on her way to work and it wouldn't start. AAA was called for a jump start and when the tech applied the jump box, Red fired right up but there was a puff of "smoke" from the alternator. He had her shut it off immediately and he checked, no more smoke from the alternator and he re-jumped it and she was able to limp it back home (5 miles or so) and I took her to work in our '01 Durango (her baby, but I'm fighting the ac and blend doors on it). Long story short I replaced the alternator with a 136 amp one from Napa. Fast forward to yesterday (Sunday)...we were at my folks house in Grass Valley and Red basically sat from late Thursday to Sunday afternoon in the heat. We left for home at about 5pm and the check gauges came back on this time showing NO VOLTAGE on the gauge. Again shut it off and upon restart it ran beautifully....approx 14 amp showing on the gauge all the way home to Reno. She drives it to work today and the check gauges pops on and the volt gauge again shows zero. I'm leaning towards a bad alternator, thankfully I got the lifetime warranty..
Question I have is, I missing something? I am going to get the multi meter out in the morning to check it and then have the alternator checked in the vehicle....any other suggestions?
ThanKS in advance
Steve