new alternator
yep, so i ended up needing a new alternator after all, another $109 expense. fortunately, i had a friend and a good samaritan to help install it for me out in front of the Pepboys so i didn't have to pay $90 for labor. like Blanche Dubois, "i've always depended upon the kindness of strangers." oh, and apparently, my tire is so worn that the steel is showing which could cause sparks that will fly up into my engine and my car will explode. it just never ends...