2000 Dodge Dakota Voltage meter goes dead when restarting w

2000 DODGE DAKOTA
163,000 MILES • V8 • AWD • AUTOMATIC
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THOMT
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Voltage meter works properly when truck is started cold, but if I turn the truck off after the engine is warm the voltage meter goes up to 10 volts and drops back to 8 volts and the "check Gauges" light comes on. I put a multi meter on the battery as the truck is running and it shows it is normal and not discharging.
Oct 18, 2010 at 4:26 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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How many volts are you seeing with the meter?
Oct 18, 2010 at 8:54 PM
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THOMT
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It was a digital multimeter and it was going from 11.5 to 12.5. I'm going to try a more stable meter tomorrow. The one I used isn't of the best quality.
Oct 18, 2010 at 10:18 PM
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THOMT
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Also a strange thing, the truck's volt meter was reading slightly above 14 when driving cold this morning.

Thanks in advance for anything you can share on this one.
Oct 18, 2010 at 10:20 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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11.5 to 12.5 = no charge from the alt if the engine is running. Before you replace anything, remove the alt and have it bench tested. If I recall, the voltage regulator is an integral component in the PCM. The alt could be good with a bad PCM or opposite. Once you know if the alt is doing its job, you'll know what needs replaced.

One other thing, there are fuseable links between the alt and the battery. Make sure none of them are bad by checking for continunity.

Let me know what you find.
Joe
Oct 19, 2010 at 8:50 PM
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THOMT
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It was the alternator. It's real odd that it would work while running after starting cold. Time to pay the bill and move on.

Thanks for your ideas.
Oct 23, 2010 at 12:13 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
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Glad that is all it was. Often times a bad alt will take out the PCM. THen it gets expensive.

Let us know if you have questions in the future.

Joe
Oct 23, 2010 at 10:10 PM