Electrical Troubles

[wmack <wmack@xxxx>]

This is the story of Vin 5043.
Last week the battery light came on, and the volt meter started to drop. I 
took it to a nearby Sears, where they checked the battery. They told me the 
battery was dead, so I put a new DieHard battery in. Driving home that day 
the battery light was still on, however I did have more volts. The next day I 
ordered a new alternator from PJ Grady and had it overnighted to me. The 
next day, day 2 of the new battery, while I was driving home from work the 
battery completly dies and the car stalls out on me. Luckly I was able to get 
it out of the way of traffic and into a nearby parking light. I called my 
wonderful wife and she came and picked me up. I took out the battery and had 
her drive me to Sears, where I picked up a new battery. After installation of 
the new battery, I was able to drive my Delorean home; where I could change 
out the alternator. Installation of the new alternator went pretty smooth. I 
started the car up in the parking lot, and everything seemed to be working 
well. I had 13 volts with all the accessories on, life was good. Friday, on 
my way to work I noticed the volt gauge fluctuating. That night driving it 
around, again the battery died. My wife and I had to jump the car 3 times (1 
time with the assistance of a police officer) and drive it the dark without 
the lights to get the car to my parents house, which was nearby. Once there I 
put the battery on a charger, and let it charge for a couple of ours. I also 
found a loose wire going to the alernator, a butt connection had come loose. 
I cut the butt connector off and soldered the two wires together. Again after 
installing the battery everything appears to work fine. After a driving this 
week, I have noticed the volt gauge will sometimes drop to the 10.5 mark in 
traffic. However when I put a voltmeter on the battery at the same time, I 
get a constant 13.5 volts. Is the volt gauge measuring the volts in the 
battery? Or the volts going through the system with the help of the 
alternator? Could the volt gauge have gone bad or is there a part between the 
battery, alternator, and the gauge that could have gone bad?

Thanks for the help.
Willie Mack
Vin 5043