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Asked: May 02, 2009 - 05:57 PM

Status: Closed

Help. Battery keeps dying. Alternator not working but when tested shows it's still good. '98 Dodge Dakota. Any ideas?

1998 3.9L Dodge Dakota automatic. Started a few weeks ago. I was in the car with the air on idiling and the engine light came on and I noticed the battery was only giving out 10 volts on the odometer. I replaced the alternator a few months before that and the battery. Took the alternator back and it was good. The guy said maybe the voltage regulator is bad. Parked truck for a few weeks, went to start it the other day and the battery level was back to 14?

Drove it for a few days and again the alternator is not throwing out power. Not sure where to go from here. Checked all the connections to alternator and they're good. Does the pcm work and not work before it finally goes out for good? Any ideas where to look for the problem?

In Maintenance & Repair > Electrical > Wiring
In Makes & Models > Dodge > Dakota
1 answer - 203 days ago

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zaken1

Date: May 03, 2009
Time: 12:14 AM

I assume the replacement alternator was a rebuilt unit. Some rebuilders do not test their products thoroughly, or do not install all new parts; and there are many units which have to be returned as a result. The alternators sold by NAPA stores under their own brand are more reliable than any other source I have found. This problem almost certainly comes from a defective alternator or voltage regulator. The voltage regulator is located inside that alternator, and can be replaced separately; but when things like that happen, the whole alternator is usually replaced. But you would have to catch it at a time when it was not working; and then hope the flexing and jostling of removing and transporting it did not get it going again.

One other thing that could cause such a problem is if the battery was not securely grounded to BOTH the engine, and to the vehicle body. There should either be a second ground wire from the battery to the body; or a dedicated ground wire from the engine to a bolt on the firewall. If these auxiliary ground wires have been removed; all sorts of weird electrical problems can develop.

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