Put in a new charge indicator bulb. Old bulb could have resistance and
sometime not pass enough current to excite the alternator. Very easy to
rule that out. Then check resistance in that blue wire, and low ohms to
ground for the charge light. Even might try making up an independent ground
wire from alt housing to battery lug. Perfectly clean battery and terminals
and ground straps should go without saying. Then if it still doesn't
resolve the issue, get a genuine Bosch Reman and toss the wannabee junk
loss leader no-name boat ballast pretender.

At 08:12 AM 10/05/2003, you wrote:
>I've recently had another alternator installed--the second one this
>year--and a new battery.  *it's working now, but I don't like that
>alternator.*
>He did say that the exciter wire to the alternator should be carrying
>twelve volts but it isn't, yesterday I had a dead battery again.
>  Now I'm suspecting that the problem may not
>be the alternator at all.  Does anyone have any ideas?