99 grand caravan 3.3 flex fuel.

I know this isn't a classic mopar, but maybe someone smarter than me has some information.

I have searched the internet, I cannot find exactly where to look. I am suspecting a fusible link issue from the alternator. Is it under the intake manifold? It is supposed to be dark green?


Replaced ECM and alternator. Still just running off and draining the battery. 10.5 volts under load tested at battery. Battery is less than 1 year old.

Ready to pull what hair I have left out.

eightlitermopar

99 probably has maxi-fuses instead of fusable links. Look in the power distribution box under the hood.

If that's the style of harness I think it is, you likely have broken wires in it.

Do you have battery voltage at the large terminal on the alternator?

On the small terminals, one should have voltage when running (blue wire iirc)

The other small terminal should be a pulsing ground (green wire I think)

Find out what's missing.

Thanks for the quick replies guys...

This brings up another question. I feel silly for asking but I honestly don't know.

How in the world do you test the terminals on the back of the alternator? I don't know how you would get back there to test while the motor is running!

Or is it just with the key turned on?

I wanted to give an update. One of my pet peeves is when someone postsa question but then does not post the follow up.

So it turns out my battery was on its way out. When I first tested it, it had 12.3 volts, then when I rechecked, it was down to 11.7.

My initial thought was the alternator was not charging, because I had a fairly good number to begin with.

I guess if a battery gets low enough it won't charge or something? the dead cell is a short circuit so it would not charge...

With my lights on and fans full blast I there was no change in voltage, so that's how I suspected no charge. Long story short, the battery was on it's way out.

I caught it in the process of dying I guess. The battery is only 5 months old, which is why I didn't think twice about it being the problem.

Expensive mistake I will not repeat again. I now have a new computer and alternator that I "shouldn't" have to worry about for a while.

Anyway, thanks for the input guys!

eightlitermopar

since the end result was the battery, did you experience any other weird electrical issues in any other circuits ? usually [in my experience any way, with many years of "bus" ownership under my belt], the failing battery does other strange things such as goofy gauge readings, radio screw ups, delay wiper malfunctions, etc. i have even experienced the transmission go into "limp" mode. most of the time, shutting the engine off then restarting cleared the malfunction until the next time it decided to act up.

Moparrx, Sorry I have not replied sooner. Working long hours...

Anyway, the van does have a new ECM, alternator and battery. It has been running great.... with no differences, *until today*

Check engine light came on: P0700 and P0740 code. I cleared the code to see if it was a glitch, but 20 miles later it came on.

The transmission was rebuilt and a new torque converter installed 30K miles ago. It is not driving or shifting any different than before. I am wondering if the new ECM has caused the code in some way. It is shifting into all gears and overdrive as well.

Since the tranny was rebuilt, I have moved across the country or else I would take it back to the original shop. They were great and honest.

Anyway, I don't know what to do at this point. I have dumped a lot of money into it this year. All the parts are almost new (which doesn't mean it will work, obviously). Anyway, any thoughts?