It's my alternator, right?

["Matthew Brenengen" <qcar@hotmail.com>]

Argh.  Both of my Q-cars are conspiring to do me in.  I had the leaky 
current in the QSW (many thanks to all of you that helped me with 
creative solutions on testing current with a insufficient amp meter!).  
Tonight, my '87 4kq bit the dust (it could have been much worse, I was 
close enough to home to run back, get the QSW and tow it back to base -- 
didn't even miss our movie).  I saw it coming.  The dash lights got 
really dim, the head lights got dim, then the tach started acting funny 
as I wheeled it around, making a desperate dash for home.  Then it died.

It is 11:00 p.m. and about 10 degrees out.  Nonetheless, I was going to 
go lie in the snow on the street and pull the alternator tonight, 
because I have to go out of town tomorrow morning.  But, I was a bit 
concerned that it could be something other than the alternator and I 
would waste all morning and whatever an alternator costs replacing the 
wrong part.

As my battery charges, I ask you all, could it be something else?  The 
battery and cables are new and clean.  There is no warning light or 
anything on the dash.  The wires to the alternator look good.  The belt 
is reasonably tight.

Can this thing be reliably tested while in the car (preferably for free 
and in an instant)?

Thanks,
Matthew Brenengen

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