Ok i bought an alternator about 3 weeks ago, and just yesterday it said check gauges and the battery meter was at the quarter mark. So i took it to oreilys and they said the alternator was pushing 10 volts. So i replaced it today and same thing it says check gauges. But when i first started the car everything was normal, so i went to go get dinner and it gradually went down and said check gauges again. Now my question is, what else could be draining the alternator that fast? it could be another faulty alternator but i doubt it. The battery is new also, and has been charged many times today. Could it be the ground wire? Battery Cables? fusible link somewhere? any help is appreciated, thanks - oh and i have a 95 3.4

 

ok here is what is wrong and why check gauges light is on, your volt meter is bad. The alternator is fine, but it will not go to high charge unless it see's a 470+ ohm resistance from the sending wire from the alternator to the volt meter, the volt meter draws 470 ohms and is the signal to excite the intergral regulator inside the alternator, so your voltmeter is bad... this is for real, I own a shop and have seen this several times, if you have a Helms manual go to the diagram of the instrument panel and you will see it there...