1997 Dodge Caravan ALTERNATOR

Tiny
RAIN14
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 16,300 MILES
I have 97 dodge carvan, and my battery light came on so I check to see if my alternator was working so I took one cable off the battery to see if it will stay running so when I did this it cut off I took off the alternator off to get it check out at auto zone and it check out good I put it back on charge the battery back up, put the alternator back on drove the van for a little while and it cut off again so then I change the belt, put everything back together charge the battery back up, test the battery and it good. Drove it around again and it cut off again while I was driving so what else come be wrong because I have had the alternator check twice once at auto zone and once at krangen and both time it was good so were do I go from here.
Monday, December 29th, 2008 AT 4:00 PM

6 Replies

Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Instead of removing the alternator out of the vehicle, go back to Kragen with the vehicle, and have them test the alternator in the car. If their hand held tester said too low or too high voltage output, the problem lies in your PCM. Your alternator output is controlled by the computer, so if there is anything wrong, it is your computer.
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Monday, December 29th, 2008 AT 11:00 PM
Tiny
RAIN14
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I was told the same thing, I was also told if it is my computer then I would have to get a whole new box and then have it program to my engine is that right. Or is there another way where it will not cost me so much
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Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 1:49 AM
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
Unfortunately, your option is limited. Your "new" computer will have to be reprogrammed so it will work with the vehicle.
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Thursday, January 1st, 2009 AT 5:12 PM
Tiny
RAIN14
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
I would like to thank you for the information. It was my alternator all along, so everything is alright now
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Friday, January 2nd, 2009 AT 1:01 AM
Tiny
ZACKMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,202 POSTS
I am glad everything worked out well for you.
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Friday, January 2nd, 2009 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
JUNIOR14
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
How did you come to the conclusion to replace the alternator even when it passed and not the PCM
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Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 AT 11:42 PM

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