The 8 year old alternator belts were squealing for some time. Finally after a couple of futile adjustments I garnered the ambition to change them. After two months and a low battery I started it. I immediately turned it off after a bearing noise came from the alternator. After checking the belts I again started it. This time the alternator seized. All the idiot lights stayed on and the belts started to smoke. Believing it had seized I removed the alternator. No, the bearings were fine having no play and turning over smoothly. I then replaced the alternator with a identical rebuilt I once had on my 89. Of course I took off without checking anything, stupid me, I didn't get far. When the check engine came on and then the airbag light I should of become suspicious. The only idiot lights that now works and stays on are the check engine and airbag.
Not checking anything I don't have a clue if the alternator light worked after the replacement. Of course the most important component the radio didn't work. All fuses under the dash are ok and I'm almost certain the connections to the alternator were hooked up correctly. I'm wondering if the initial problem could be a faulty diode somewhere in the system that malfunctioned because of the voltage drop from the low battery. A resulting voltage spike could also be responsible for the radio not working. My first thought would be to buy an Advance Auto rebuilt since the current one sat for three years. (which is what is in it now). Or is there a fusible link somewhere in the system? I don't want to start throwing money into it. The car has other issues that require keeping expenses down(about 300.000 miles, light rod noise and a rebuilt rack that is now beginning to leak).