I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota 3.9 V-6. I was driving home from work the other day and the "Check Gages" light came on. I look to see what's going on and the voltmeter is down to 8 volts(the same spot where it is when the truck is off. So I take it to Advance Auto Parts so they can check the alternator,on the truck. Their diagnosis, the alternator is not outputting what it should. So I have them get me one $150.00 later and I put it on. Problem solved. Nope. I was taking the core back to the auto parts and same thing happened. This time they check the battery and the machine said that the battery was good but it had a low charge. They couldn't test my old alternator but Murrays could and come to find out my old alternator is just fine. I got to nosing around under the hood and I noticed the cover for the other set of fuses on the truck. Great!!! There's a 50 amp fuse for the alternator and it's blown. Problem solved. Nope. Went to go to work this morning and got about 2 miles down the road and same thing as before, check engine light and 8 volts on the gage. Called the dealer today thinking there might be a voltage regulator that could be replaced and there isn't. According to the dealer the only problem could be the alternator, fuse, or the PCM( at a cost of $600). Has anyone out there ran into this problem on a Dodge??? If so was it the PCM or am I missing something else??
Also if it is the PCM does anyone have one of these things or know of a junk yard where I could get one??

Please help!!!!
Thanks,
Bill

 

the alternators are internally regulated on just about all cars these days, and yes I had this problem two days after buying my dakota, I diagnosed the alternator myself, and replaced it and 20,000 miles later I am still fine. I ask you did your truck blow the fuse again, cause you only stated it didn't fix the problem replacing it. cause it could posibly be an intermiten problem that was my problem, the internal regulator was craping out, and and sending an eratic signal. I will say that dodge has had there share of problems with there clusters. some would actually catch fire, as a matter of fact my mother hada durangothat the gauges went crazy on, then you would smell burnt wires in the car when you got in it in the morning. she took it to a dealer I will not mention their name cause their mechanics don't know the first thing about diagnosing a problem let alone fix it. they just through a part at the dash, or so they said, and told her to pick it up, she got to the dealership and the mother ****ing dash was burned, mean melted, and charcole, and smoke I mean fire. they replaced the dash, and the computer and all that free of charge and it is fine. don't know what to tell you, but check your battery cables, and maybe use your waranty on your alternator. check all electrical conections