2007 Dodge Nitro electrical issue

2007 Nitro , 3.7L . Daughter's car. She called to tell me that the alternator was smoking. She knows her way around tools so I had her quickly disconnect the battery. I determined that the alternator was bad and installed a new one. After making all connections, I have a dead key. Battery is charged but no gauges, no start. Was told by a mechanic problem was likely the TIPM. (Totally integrated power module). I sent the unit off and the repair facility shipped it back at no charge stating that the problem I'm having isn't covered in their repair procedure. I've tried jumping it, nothing. Dome light work IF you manually turn them on but not through door switches. Door locks dead. Nothing comes on inside or outside the vehicle. Any thoughts ? I fix 99% of all of my car issues. Alternator was easy with 3 bolts, belt 1 plug and the charge lead. I get 12v+ to the TIPM, no blown fuses.

have you checked the body to engine grounds?? if not clip light on the body strut bolt etc then use testing end probe engine block. you shouldnt see it light if you do you have a bad ground.

also check fuses m16 m15 and m33 with the key on. should have power the diagram says there in the tipm

Hi, All grounds good that I can find. Getting 12.2-ish volts to TIPM. No power inside car at all.

All fuses in TIPM are good. No Communication to Scan tool as well. Tool gets power from data port but will not communicate. I'm suspecting ECM.

Hi, M15, M16 and M33 have no voltage with key on. thoughts ?

TOMMITYTOMTOM wrote: Hi, M15, M16 and M33 have no voltage with key on. thoughts ?

How about M37? Because according to the diagram, M15, M16, M33 and M37 all get power from the Run/Start relay (likely integrated into the TIPM).

M15, M16 and M33 power other accessories, but M37 goes to the PCM. That'd very neatly explain your lack of communication.

I'll check that ASAP. Thanks for the tip. I have the wiring diagram but it's a bit overwhelming.

post the diagramif you could

cheryl hartkorn wrote: post the diagramif you could

The entire power distribution diagram is too big for the forums. So I cut it down to the two pages with the relevant fuses:

I have the wiring diagram but it's a bit overwhelming.

Not your fault - it's a big diagram. :lol: And the relationship between the four fuses isn't very clearly indicated.

was the car jumped off and possibly the jumper cable installed backwards on the battery, that will fry the computer.

what was smoking was it the winding inside the alternator? the wiring going to the alternator? start backtracking from the alternator back. is the alternator fused with a fusible link? did it short out the battery? did it burn ground lugs off of anything? smoking usually means DIRECT SHORT!

Car wasn't jumped off. She noticed smoking and sent me a small video. Lucky for me that she knows her way around my tool box and I had her disconnect the battery quickly. The smoke was from inside the alternator case. I've verified all user-replacable fuses and relays in the TIPM are good. Fuses were checked with a meter for continuity when removed from TIPM. Relays, the same way but with a 12V power supply to check coils in relay and DVM for continuity as well. I may take the TIPM apart again and check the small relays as well. There isn't a fuseable link anywhere that I can find.

TOMMITYTOMTOM wrote: Car wasn't jumped off. She noticed smoking and sent me a small video. Lucky for me that she knows her way around my tool box and I had her disconnect the battery quickly. The smoke was from inside the alternator case. I've verified all user-replacable fuses and relays in the TIPM are good. Fuses were checked with a meter for continuity when removed from TIPM. Relays, the same way but with a 12V power supply to check coils in relay and DVM for continuity as well. I may take the TIPM apart again and check the small relays as well. There isn't a fuseable link anywhere that I can find.

Do you recall if fuse M37 had power KOEO?

Sorry for the delay, I've been in the hospital. M37 is ABS/ESP/STP/LP SW/FUEL PUMP RELAY HI CONTROL. No voltage (KOEO)

Actron CP9180 scanner gets power from OBD port but NO communication with any modules.

TOMMITYTOMTOM wrote: Sorry for the delay, I've been in the hospital. M37 is ABS/ESP/STP/LP SW/FUEL PUMP RELAY HI CONTROL. No voltage (KOEO)

Sorry to hear that. Hoping all is well.

Definitely sounds like the Run/Start relay isn't getting energized, OR there's an issue on the load side of the relay.

As I was unable to physically work on the car, I gave in and let my daughter's boyfriend's friend tow it. He asked for all of things i've tried. I told him my gut feeling was the TIPM as it would freak out overtime I would pull it and reinstall after checking relays soldered to the board. He immediately bought a used TIPM for same make and upon installing, it fired right up. I really wanted to diagnose rather than just throw a part at it. Thanks for all of the tips though.