If I'm sitting still and turn the steering wheel either direction the alt. stops charging and the check gauge light comes on. The same thing happens when I'm accelerating hard. Gradual acceleration does nothing, and when I'm driving straight it's fine. I thought either the PS pulley is not turning freely or the tensioner is not holding the belt tight. Or is this normal for a dying alternator??

 

Check the exciter wire

 

I'll check the wire tomorrow. I remember there's no slack in that at all from when I put the new alternator in about a year and a half ago. I put new belts on it today with no difference.

 

deff. going to be the excitor wire, you might want to adjust the alternator if theres no slack in the cord....its pretty fragile

 

I thought your tensioner idea was solid. Regular maintenance item anyways.