alternators

how do you test your own alternator or know if its toast?>
i have an 84 olds omega as well and i put a new charged battery in it fired it up the next day i tried to turn it over it chugged a couple times then it wouldnt turn over then i got the dead battery lights. thats way to fast so obviously something is draining the power source ie the alternator? can i check it or do i have to take it in?

just go up to autozone and they'll do it for free

^^^ if you can always get someone to do it for you for free why do it yourself right?... hit em up comrade.

I got an Autozone alternator with the lifetime warranty for my old 1993 Cav and it crapped out after a little less than 3 years. Free replacenent though. The replacement was on the car when I got rid of it, about 2 years later. Rebuilt alternators and starters never seem to be as good as the original anyway.

how do you test your own alternator or know if its toast?>
i have an 84 olds omega as well and i put a new charged battery in it fired it up the next day i tried to turn it over it chugged a couple times then it wouldnt turn over then i got the dead battery lights. thats way to fast so obviously something is draining the power source ie the alternator? can i check it or do i have to take it in?

Put A VOLTMETER ACROSS IT AND SEE WHAT IT'S KICKING OUT A GOOD ONE, ABOUT 13VOLTS OR SO A BAD ANYTHING UNDER 12 REALLY!