My 20-year old son has been "borrowing" my '86 for the last year or 2. The car wouldn't start and a jump got it going. Had him take it to where I get my alternator/starters rebuilt, they checked it for free and said it's the alternator or wiring, that the battery was at 12v, not 14 or something. Visually the wiring looks OK around the alternator, I think I repaired it a few years ago. I bought a multimeter last night, have been stalling it off for 20 years (had ALL my tools stolen by a herion addict 20 yrs ago). So do I just test the hot wire to the alternator to ground? What should it read? Maybe I should have just got a continuity tester. Thanks.