maybe the alternater shot

Well, you will at least need a test light. charge batt. then you unplug the connector from the alternator. Then hook leed from test light to neg side of battery, then start vehc. and then ck. for power at the alt. connector. it doesnt matter which wire you ck. wont hurt anything. It light lites up, then hook leed to pos. side of batt. and test other wire in connector. if light lights up....the alt is bad. the ASD relay provides power to the field of alt. PCM controls the ground side. DO NOT SHORT THESE WIRES IN CONNECTOR TOGETHER...may ruin PCMs ability to control alternator.......hope this helps.....

Also ck. to make sure you have battery voltage at the big red wire at back of alt.

does batt. go dead as it goes to 0 or does it just quickly drop to 0?

no battery is brand new it just quickly drops to 0

the battery stays going as I am able to still drive around just no volts on gauge....had an alt go years ago on another car....would just die then a quick boost and go a bit more then die tis hard on the battery

you might goto autozone and have them scan it. charging voltage should be just below 14 vt. if SCANNER says 14vt then you have a gauge issue, as this info from the PCM is bussed info. to the cluster.

thanks or the help thejeepdoctor ...do you think I could have been getting wet from anti freeze spraying on it just replaced thermostat housing because of a leak it has sat for 2 weeks til I fixed it started it up and the gauge works again...does a bit of squealing now and then but at least it works