Ok So a few weeks ago I found out I blew my 80 amp Alternator fuse after working on the car for the weekend because my car kept going dead on me. So I fixed it, no problem, works fine now. BTW the car has a brand new alternator on it too. Now a few days ago just driving, I notice the lights get dimmer and theres no power on the top end of the car anymore, which is just what I experienced the first time. I check my palm pilot and the batt is now at 11.7v, then jumps to 14v, then to 11, then back to 14 and so on. So then I get home and park the car and get out, I check all the fuses again, and they all look fine. so now i leave the car running, and have my palm pilot out and when its sitting at 11v. so then i take the wooden end of an axe and hit my alternator while its running. BAM, back to 14V, then it quickly drops to 11v again, and I hit it a few more times and it keeps jumping back up then back down. So now I'm thinking, hey maybe the alternator is junk, so today i take it back to where i bought it and swap it out for a new one, no problem. put it on and it's not the problem. still at 11.7-12.0v. So whatduhell? I re-check the fuses, and pull apart all the wire loom and electrical tape on the alternator wires and check them for wear or shorts any anything suspicious, but nothing looks out of whack. but now when i hit the ALT with the stick again, nothing happens at all, no jumps of voltage, nothing. So what out the blue now is causing my electrical system not to charge? All the wires look in very good shape, the 80 amp alternator fuse is not blown, and the alternator is brand new. Im now out of ideas. Whats this alternator relay? could this have went bad and causing it not to charge? Im out of ideas now. your help is greatly appreciated, Thanks, Dan