alternator problem

[jbrutcher]

I'm pretty sure that I have a bad alternator. The jeep that I purchased sat for quite a while before I bought it. I had it for a couple of days and drove it around without a problem, but today on my way somewhere.. I started getting some weird things inside the cab... electronic stuff not working.. and then eventually my power steering stopped working and I stalled and pulled over. I tried to jump start the jeep and it would start... but as I'd let it sit there, it would sound like it would stall if I would let off the gas. and when I tried to turn the lights on (this all happened at night) It would just stall out.

my question is: Do you think this sounds like an alternator? And if so, is this something that I could fix myself (I have a really basic knowledge of engines, but I'm not afraid to take things apart) or should I pay someone to do it for me?

This is a 93 cherokee sport.

Thank you!

[Jerry Bransford]

That can also be the symptom of a very dead battery. Alternators require a small amount of "exciter voltage" from a battery to work so if your battery were nearly dead, it can make the Jeep run like crap. Have the battery load tested first, then look at the alternator.