Alternator problems

Recently replaced some gaskets in my intrigue, after putting everything back together i went to start it up. Seemed to run fine but some white smoke started coming from the engine and an electrical smell. I notice that i had not hooked up the alternator at all. Stopped and hooked it up and everything seemed fine. When i was out driving the other day all the lights on the dash came on and the engine died. Brought it home and jumped it but would not run after removing the jumper cables. The battery is new, so i thought the alternator. Had it check at 2 differnt auto shops and it passed each time. But it will not charge the battery, It only put out 5v when car is running. Is the anything you can tell me to help. 1999 intrigue with 3.8 engine.

If it was only putting 5 volts out, the car would not run.....you need AT LEAST 9.6 volts for the computer to function...

First, read voltage across the battery......should be 12.6 volts...... now move the pos probe to the back of the alternator where the big red wire attaches to the alternator......do you get the same reading as across the battery? If no, you might have blown a fuseable link....

It will not run unless i have the jumper cables on it, as soon as i take them off then it dies. I have check every fuse i can find and they all seem to be good.

Did you work out what was causing the white smoke the burning smell?

Any chance the cable you forgot to plug in, has been burned and damaged?