Where is the voltage regulator?

Where is voltage regulator on my 2000 dodge stratus? in the alternator?

• Last night on my ride home the battery light came on. Autozone tested the battery and they said it was bad. I shut the car off, turned it back on and the batter light was off. They tested it and said battery and alternator are fine. I have heard on the 2000 stratus 2.4 dohc that the voltage regulator is not in or on the alternator. I left autozone, the light came on and the car was driving fine, then slowly the lights got dimmer, and dimmer. Then, they just about shut off, I kept driving (the car had much less power) and all of a sudden it kicked back into it. Lights were bright as ever. I came home, shut the car off, turned it back on and the battery light is off. I heard it might be the Volt. Regulator. Can anyone shed some light on this?

• Answer:

  Matt more then likely the voltage regulator is acting up and it's probably inside the main comp=PCM/ECM. If you see that the alternator has two small wires trace them and if they run to the main comp those are the wires the main comp uses to turn on the alternator when needed. I highly recommend that you get the battery and alternator retested and you might want to take them out to test them.Some vehicles have stereo and ignition security systems that require certain procedures and codes entering so be sure you have them handy. Hope that helps and best of luck.By the way you can do a couple of tests yourself with a voltage meter attache the negative lead to the negative battery post and the positive lead to the positive battery post , with the engine and ignition is off the battery should give at least 12 volts and a good battery will give 12.5 to 12.9 volts.Next try starting up the vehicle you should get a good 13.7 to 13.9 volts. You could try charging up the battery with it in the vehicle and then see what voltage you get but it sure sounds like either a bad voltage regulator or a loose connection or a loose alternator belt , but not even a alternator can have a intermittent problem. Any good auto wreckers or alternator shop or parts store should be able to tell you if the voltage regulator is inside the main comp or internally inside the alternator or is externally located.Also auto wreckers or comp sales outlets can tell you what models or years use that same comp and if the system requires the security system reset or reprogramming.