Hey all,</P>


I am new to this forum, and I came seeking help from some fellow Dodge owners. As you guessed by the title I am having some issues with my charging system.. Unfortunately, the problem was self induced (read, I goofed bigtime). The truck is a 97 2500 with the V10.</P>


Some background. Since we are having a cold snap here is the Northeast, I decided it was tine to swap my 180 thermostat for a 195. Which I proceeded to do.. Once it was done, I had a slight leak from the thermostat housing. (Im going to blame this next part on the cold, after all it was 10 degrees when I was doing this During a moment of a brain cramp, I think it is a good idea to fish a socket and extension down behind the alternator to snug up the bolts, with the engine running mind you... I of course grounded the field circuit feed (term #2), and instantly the Alt stops charging.... I *thought* i fried the alternator, and picked up a replacement.. No still not charging.. SO tonight I break out the factory service manual and get into it... After some quick tests, I find I am getting no power to the field circuit. I traced this back to the tranmission control relay. I looks like they put the TCR in series with the ALT field circuit.. The PCM feeds the TCR directly, no fuse. So I believe I fried that circuit within the PCM.. I ran a bypass wire to feed the alt field circuit, and VIOLA! there was power again...</P>


So with that, I am curios as to if anyone else has been boneheaded like me. And if replacing the PCM was the cure..</P>


Thanks...</P>