Chrysler Repair: 1995 Plymouth Vog. charging system, field coil, orange wire

Question
my 1995 mini-van has trouble codes 12,41. Had charging system check I was told battery and alt. was o.k. Now check  engine like came back on while driving and car died out. Had to jump start to get home.

Answer
Hi Dwayne,
Have you rechecked for trouble codes (assuming that codes were erased by disconnecting the battery when they were last read)? You can read the codes yourself using the ignition key. (Write back if you need to know how to do that.) If you still have a 41 code then that does say there is something wrong with the field coil circuit to the alternator. Either the alternator coils are opening or there is an open or intermittant connection in one of the two wires that go to the field coils. The dark green/orange wire should show 12v with the engine running. The dark green wire should be checked for patency between the post for it at the alternator and pin 20 of the engine controller 60-way plug, shake the harness while checking. If there is something wrong with the charging system the dash gauge would be reading below 13V while you are driving it and the charging warning light would also be "on". What have you observed?
Roland