An update: got the battery charged up and reinstalled. Ran the car with no accessories on. Checked voltage at battery and found 12.4V.

Took to O'Reilly and they said bad regulator & rectifier in the brand new alternator. Pulled alternator and retested. Diagnosis confirmed. Bought new alternator and had it tested before we left the store. It passed. Heading home to install. Replacing belt this time, just to be safe.

 

New parts can go bad, will you get money back for the defective alternator?

 

absolutely! it's got a warranty. problem is, the parts store he bought it from is closed today. Had to buy the new one elsewhere. He'll go back in the morning for a refund.

Final Update:

new alternator went in. new belt went on. battery came off of the charger at 13.0 volts. it wasn't fully charged, but I hoped it'd be enough to work. put it in and fired the car up. no accessories on. 14.28 volts at the battery. drove down the highway and back (10-15 mile round trip) and came back to find that it was 14.75 volts at the battery with the car idling. Must've finished charging the battery.

no warning lights or anything of the like. good to go.

thanks to all for the help and responses!

-Chris

 

Rock on!! Enjoy the 4 th!!!