Voltage problem and A/F

[jesus_ralliart]

So, the other day I turn the car on(really cold past couple days) and as I'm leaving I notice that the voltage is a little low and that the dash is dimmer and the bad battery light is on(nightime hence lit dash). So, I think maybe the battery was just weakened by the cold... so I take it for a quick spin around the block.. nothing crazy. However, the voltage just kept dropping so I drove it home and the voltage was at 10.4 when I turned her off. I try to turn her back on and no go. So, I'm assuming that the alternator is bad and isn't charging the battery. I should also mention that the A/F was way off the grid... started out regular at 14.7 and went up to 16.0+. So, the next day I'm assuming I wont be able to turn the car on... I was wrong... 11.4V or so and it turned over... odd but I put the car in the garage and hooked up a battery charger to let it charge for the night. This morning, I turn the key to the on position and it reads 12V and drops to 11.4 when the car is turned on.... A/F is 15.5 or so and dropping then rising again to 16.0... The voltage rose a little to 11.5/6 then started to drop again to 11.4/3

I'm thinking its a bad alternator and that the battery isn't being charged...I'm also worried about the A/F. Is the A/F wacky because of the cold weather?

 

[jesus_ralliart]

Nobody has any ideas? I'm planning on getting a new alternator anyhow but I figured I'd ask first if someone had this happen to them before

 

[rgeier11]

Take it off and have it tested at Autozone for free. An alternator job takes under 30 mins.

 

[Muskrat]

Chances are anyone who's read this agrees - new alternator. Do that then report back. There's no use replying if you haven't already exhausted the obvious.