i've made repairs to wiring harness for + terminal (it broke due to bad corrosion). Trouble is, i didnt use wire thick enough. When i cranked the engine, was a big poof! and my handiwork disintegrated.
Then I've fixed it all up good. Car could start on its own, but the battery light came on the guage cluster.
I drove it for a couple of days like that, while waiting for weekend but the car didnt start this morning. Battery dead. I can jump-start the car no problem.

I figure since after the incident, the battery is not being charged anymore.

What did i fry? what to check? If something major like alternator was dead, the car wouldnt start at all, right?

 

If the car starts with a jump, then the battery is what I would check first. Then look at the alternator. Autozone does a free battery check for you.

 

You prolly blew the regulator or a diode in the alternator.

 

after i jump-started, i drove the car for like 10 minutes and battery did NOT charge at all.

so you are saying the car can run even with toasted alternator?

please tell me how to check alternator.

thanks

 

Yes the car will run with a bad alternator, but it won't charge the battery at all.

 

regulator: i dont know what it is. where do i find it (in service manual or car itself)?
diode in alternator: is that replaceable or do i need to replace the whole alternator?

 

You would need to replace the whole unit. It is serviced only as a complete assembly. If the generator
fails for any reason, the entire assembly must be replaced.

 

Everything is internal. That would be replacing the whole thing.

 

how would you rate the difficulty of removing/installing alternator (or as manual calls it, generator)? I dont have torque wrench or belt tensioner tools. Just basic socket wrench set.

does the vehicle really need to be lifted up?

 

Not real difficult at all. I just posted a how-to in this thread...
https://dodgeforum.com/m_728575/tm.htm