Charging system is very irratic from very high to nothing. there is no voltage limiter that i can find . can this be the engine controller gone bad? every other fuction seems normal. code 41 comes up when checked on board.

Voltage regulation is electronic, no way to adjust it. First, clean your battery terminals. Then do a battery test first. High charging voltage can be caused by high resistance at the terminals or inside the battery. A battery test will show whether the battery is good or not.

Some vehicles are fitted with a smart charging system that is designed to prevent the alternator charging during acceleration to free a few horsepower to help.

My experience of these is very limited but there is an ECU that controls them and the battery, charging or ignition light using information from the engine management system.
The alternator generally has an extra plug with about four or five wires which when disconnected render the alternator a standard machine sensed type.

Japanese vehicles used separate voltage regulators longer than most types. You either need experience or a wiring diagram for good fault diagnosis but mostly it is unnecessary to check the charging current of an alternator which bears little significance unless being tested with a graduated load or adjustable carbon pile.

The current output of a healthy alternator is dependent on the terminal voltage of the battery which in turn is dependent on the electrical load placed upon it. Switching on the lights should lower the voltage and increase the alternator output. If the battery is particularly good the voltage won't fall very much and the current won't increase as much as expected...

Measuring the battery voltage with the engine running at about 2000/2500 rpm is sufficient for most purposes. With nothing switched on and a fully charged battery it should be around 14.5 volts and with everything switched on (lights, HRW, heater fan, etc.) a healthy alternator should continue to maintain a voltage above that of a healthy fully charged battery (13.2 volts).

If the voltage isn't maintained on load the charging system, probably the alternator, is faulty and should be independently tested.

The 12 is normal for the starting code. The 41 says generator (alternator) field is not switching properly. Code 45 says Turbo boost limit exceeded (engine was shut down by logic module). I doubt that you have turbo on the Dakota. However there IS a code 46. Battery voltage too high during charging or charging system voltage too low. That would make sense with the 41 code. Sounds like you may have an alternator/charging system problem.

Under hood,passenger side mounted on the firewall,but ...
Could be something else ,crank sensor or cam,or ign.rotor ect.
The module like 3 hundred bucks.Try this ,turn the key
on-off-on-off-on( without out hitting the starter) the check
engine light should begin to flash.
Here is a code list,may narrow down the problem.
Diagnostic Trouble Code Descriptions and service hints. Fault Code DRB Display Code Description. Service hints. 11 No Crank reference signal at PCM No Distributor reference signal detected during engine cranking. Check the circuit between the distributor and PCM. 12 Battery Disconnect Direct Battery input to PCM disconnected within last 50 ignition key-on cycles. Normal if battery has been disconnected, otherwise check battery power and ground connections. 13** No change in MAP from start to run No difference seen between the engine MAP reading and the barometric (atmospheric) pressure reading at startup. Indicates a problem with the MAP sensor vacuum system. 14** MAP sensor voltage too low or too high MAP sensor voltage output is outside the acceptable range. 15** No Vehicle speed sensor signal No signal received from the vehicle speed sensor during road load operation. 17* Engine is cold too long Engine temperature too high or too low while traveling. Check coolant level, radiator cap, temperature sensor, and thermostat. 21** O2S Stays at center O2S shorted to voltage O2 sensor does not detect rich or lean condition, or O2 sensor input voltage too high. DRB will indicate which side with dual sensors. The O2 sensor signal should fluctuate under normal conditions. 22** ECT sensor voltage too high or too low Engine Coolant temperature sensor input out of normal range. Check engine temperature sensor. 23** Intake air temp sensor voltage too high or low Intake air manifold temperature sensor is out of range. Check sensor. 24** Throttle position sensor voltage too high or low TPS sensor is out of normal range. 25** Idle air control motor circuits A short is detected in one or more of the idle air motor circuits. 27* Injector # control circuit Injector number # output driver circuit does not respond to the control signal. Check the affected circuit. 31** EVAP Solenoid Circuit Short or open in the EVAP solenoid circuit. Check for loose, broken, or shorted wire in the charcoal canister purge solenoid wiring and connectors. 32** EGR Solenoid circuit Short or open in the EGR solenoid circuit. Check for loose, broken, or shorted wire in the EGR valve wiring and connectors. Possible air fuel ratio imbalance not detected during diagnosis. 33* AC clutch relay circuit Short or open in the AC clutch circuit. 34* Speed control circuit or speed control switch always low or high An open or short in the speed control vacuum or vent circuits. Speed control switch input above or below normal range. 35 Radiator Fan low speed relay circuit Open or short in the radiator fan relay wiring. 37** Torque converter clutch solenoid CKT or Trans temp sensor too high or low Open or short in CKT wiring or connectors. Voltage out of range at transmission temperature sensor input. See NOTE #1 below 41** Generator field not switching properly Open or short in the generator (alternator) field control (regulator) circuit. This indicates a problem with the charging circuit and the fault is set when the battery voltage from the ASD relay falls below 11.75 volts. Wiring, connectors, fuses, and the ASD relay should be checked. A shorted battery cell can also trigger this fault. 42* Auto shutdown relay circuit Open or short in the ASD relay wiring or connectors. 43** Ignition coil circuit # Open or short in number # coil circuit. Indicates that the ignition coil's peak primary circuit current is not achieved with the maximum dwell time. 44* Battery temp sensor volts out of range An open or short in the engine coolant temperature sensor circuit or a problem in the PCM's battery temperature circuit. 45* Trans OD solenoid circuit Transmission OD solenoid circuit failure. Open or short in the transmission overdrive solenoid circuit. 46** Charging system voltage too high Battery voltage sense input above target charging voltage during engine operation. Computer is indicating that the battery voltage is not being regulated. 47** Charging system voltage too low Battery voltage sense input above target charging voltage during engine operation. Also, no significant change in battery voltage was detected during a test of the generator output. 51** System lean L-Idle Adap at rich limit or lean R-Idle Adap at rich limit O2 sensor signal indicates lean air/fuel ratio during engine operation. The computer ran the mixture to the rich limit of programming, but the O2 sensor still indicated a lean condition. L or R indicate left or right side O2 sensor. Fuel pressure problems can lean the mixture and set this fault. 52** System rich L-Idle Adap at lean limit or rich R-Idle Adap at lean limit O2 sensor signal indicates rich air/fuel ratio during engine operation. The computer ran the mixture to the lean limit of programming, but the O2 sensor still indicated a rich condition. L or R indicate left or right side O2 sensor. Faulty ignition components, high or low fuel pressure, or leaking injectors can set this fault. 53* Internal PCM failure or PCM SPI comm failure An internal PCM failure or PCM communications failure has been detected. 54* No cam sync signal at PCM No fuel sync (camshaft signal) detected during engine crank. No camshaft position sensor signal was received from the distributor. Problem with the distributor synchronization circuit. 55 N/A End of message code. A DTC 55 is used to end all DTC messages. This code does not show on the DRB tool and indicates a completion of the stored codes on the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (check engine lamp). 62* PCM failure SRI miles not stored Unsuccessful attempt to update Service Reminder Indicator miles in the PCM EEPROM (memory). 63* PCM Failure EEPROM write denied Unsuccessful attempt to write and EEPROM location by the PCM. Controller failure, check the PCM. This code can be set when attempting an unauthorized reprogram of the PCM. 71** Aux 5V signal voltage low The auxiliary 5 volt supply output voltage is low. The 5 volt output signal is not reaching the required voltage level. 72** Catalytic Converter efficiency failure The catalytic converter is not converting emissions in the proper ratio.

Yes here is that list.
Chrysler products COMMON CODES OBD1 (vehicles made before 1995)
Part 1: Chrysler Domestic vehicles
CODES/Meaning
88 display used for start or test
11 camshaft signal or ignition signal, no reference signal during cranking
12 memory to controller has been cleared within 50-100 engine starts
13 map sensor not detecting any change during test
14 map voltage too high or too low
15 vehicle speed sensor, no signal detected
16 knock sensor circuit. open or short detected
17 low engine temperature, possible thermostat fault
21 oxygen sensor signal, neither rich or lean detected
22 coolant sensor voltage low
23 air charge voltage high/low detected
24 throttle positioner sensor voltage high/low
25 automatic idle speed motor driver circuit, short or open detected
26 injectors 1,2,3 peak current not reached
27 injector control circuit does not respond to control signal
31 purge solenoid circuit, open or short detected
32 egr solenoid circuit, open or short detected
33 a/c clutch relay circuit, open or short detected
34 speed control servo solenoid, open or short detected
35 radiator fan control relay circuit, open or short detected
36 wastegate solenoid, open or short detected
37 part throttle unlock(PTU) circuit, open or short detected
41 charging system circuit not responding to control signal
42 fuel pump or auto shutdown (ASD) relay voltage sensed at controller
43 ignition control circuit not responding
44 battery temperature voltage circuit problem
45 turbo boost limit exceeded-map sensor detects overboost
46 battery voltage too high
47 battery voltage too low
51 air/fuel at limit
52 logic module fault
53 internal controller failure
54 camshaft reference circuit not detected
55 end of message
61 baro read solenoid, open or short detected
62 emr mileage not stored
63 eeprom write denied
64 flex fuel sensor signal out of range
65 manifold tuning valve, open or short detected
66 no ccd messages
76 ballast bypass relay, open or short detected
77 speed control relay, open or short detected

the plug on the alt will some times go bad usually melting this is normally the cause of this

When you car is running and you take off the cable from the battery, the engine is quitting than youe Alternator is bad. This is happening on the new one then the new one is also bad.
When you don't have enough charge, it doesn't mean your alternator is bad, just the corroded terminals at cable had high resistance to limit the current flowing in.
If you have a Voltmeter you can measure the voltage when the car running and when it is off, the difference can tell you the alternator is bad if the voltage is not higher than when it is not running.
If you don't have a voltmeter then bring your car to any Auto Zone store, they can check free for the problem with an alternator or not.
Remember a loosed belt won't help charging a lot.

Is it high voltage or signal high. If it is truly high voltage it could be a wire crossed with a 12 volt wire, but more likely an engine controller that has gone bad. Use a digital volt ohm meter to determine the voltage on the reference circuit. Normal voltage should be near 5 volts.
If the issue is signal high, this indicates a broken wire between the engine controller and the sensors.
Good luck.

CODE PO562 SYSTEM VOLTAGE LOW.THIS COULD BE THE PROBLEM.YOUR ALTERNATOR NOT CHARGING.NOT ENOUGH POWER TO RUN THE PCM.HAVE YOUR CAR CHARGING SYSTEM CHECKED.