Chrysler Repair: Voltage indicator light staying on, fuse box, chrysler town

Question
The Voltage indicator light has been staying on my 2002 Chrysler Town & Country Limited for about 3 days now. It starts right away, light are not dimming... only known problem is that about 3 months ago the automatic tailgate started not always opening & closing, and recently will not automatically open nor go down whether using key fob or inside control.
Could this cause the voltage light to come on?

Answer
Hi Larry,
I wonder how things worked out with the charging system? You can report back if you like by the 'thank/rate' tab below, without having to wait for me to be 'available' to take a question. While you are there, if my answer was helpful I would appreciate a vote of 'yes' for the 'nomination to be expert of the month'. I am in a close race for that honor so every vote is helful. Thanks in advance.






Hi Larry,
I don't think the tail gate issue would cause this, but it could. I don't have a shop manual for a van as new as '02 so I don't have a circuit diagram for that feature. However, you might check in both the power distribution box under hood and the underdash fuse box to see if there is a fuse or relay that is designated for that particular feature/function. See if the owner's manual lists a fuse for the tailgate. If so, remove the fuse/relay and see if that causes the light to go out. If it does, then that would of course say that circuit is the cause of the light, most likely that it is drawing so much current that the alternator (generator) is unable to keep up with the demand it is putting on the system.
More likely, the red light is simply telling you that the voltage output of the alternator is less than required to return a charge to the battery so that if you don't correct the situation the battery is going to discharge so greatly that either the engine starter won't work, or the engine will stall if it is running and the voltage is too low to sustain a spark or fuel pressure from the fuel pump or some other necessary function to keep the vehicle moving.
If you have the 2.4L engine the belt that drives the alternator and AC compressor may have broken (the other engines have a belt that drives the alternator and the power steering so you would have noticed if the belt broke). Often the charge light 'on' indicates that the alternator has stopped working and needs to be rebuilt/replaced, but it could also mean that a voltage control wire from the engine computer to the alternator is disconnected, or a battery voltage source wire to the field coils of the alternator is disconnected.
I would investigate this promptly because you may very soon find that you won't be able to start it or to keep the engine running. The battery is discharging while you are running with the voltage light glowing and it can't go on like that indefinitely.
Roland