Hello, it's my first post so if I do something that is not correct please let me know.

I have an 94 Ford Ranger 4cylinder 2WD. I have had some trouble with my truck staying charged so obviously I put an alternator in it and then another one because the first one was refurbished and missing a clamp to hold the connector in. Then the second wasn't working so I put another on and it didn't help. I ended up getting a new battery because it was not good dying and charging and dying back and forth. Drove it for a couple days and then it died again on me.

Ended up testing alternator again and it was bad so I ended up getting a new one. When I put it on, I was told the wire from alternator to starter(not sure what it does exactly) was barely hanging on so I replaced it and now every time I start my truck it goes back and forth between putting out 12v or 14v as if the alternator is only work some of the time and not every time.

Also a couple other random questions. Left blinker turns on but does not flash. It used to work before this problem with the alternator. And is it easy to fix the gauge cluster? Nothing works besides speedometer. Fuel gauge might be something to do with fuel pump. The gauge that is above the fuel gauge says cold, normal, and hot. The dial thing used to stay between the an and the l in normal but now it is out of the brackets by the word hot so I don't know if it is actually running hot or it's broke .

I am not the handiest person so if you have any ideas please let me know what you think. And maybe act like you are talking to a 10 year old. Thanks everyone!