Battery Light blinks?

[Truck]

Parked the van a week ago (97 AWD). Started it on Monday, did not run it over 5 mins. Went back Tuesday, battery dead, pulled battery and charged it. Brought it back, installed, crank, no-running. Pulled a vehicle to jump it. After an hour, it would crank, but not run. Ever since, the battery light blinks in accordance with the 'charging system faulty' scenario. Any help?

(When I put the battery back in, I know I pushed against the underhood (behind battery) harnesses. I checked them, the connectors are fine, visually. Could there be a short, and is there any way to check without the pin-in-insulator resistance check? Any help would be appreciated. (My 'helper' is insisting I replace cap/rotor-which I did 14K miles ago along with the fuel filter replaced at same time. Any more 'help' I cannot stand. Please, if you have a legit idea, Help! )

[Truck]

Ok, just back from under the hood of the beast. Near the power distribution box, there are a few connectors. One with about 8, one with 4 and one with 5 (the physically largest one.) The red wire is a bigger gauge than the others. On the female end, the wire has cracked insulation, and the wire is broken. Apparently, it's been in bad shape for sometime, but I don't know how long it's been completely gone. I'm going to re-wire the connection, anyone have any idea what this wire does?

I suppose it's a 12v supply to something, but I have no identifiers other than it's red and larger gauge (numerically smaller) than the other ones in it's connection. It's the 5-wire plug behind the battery, 'downstream' from the power distribution box.

[Truck]

Well, that's how that goes. I replaced one battery terminal, since one was horribly stripped. (2.63 from dealer.) Then I also picked up a fuel pump relay, and a rotor to satisfy my 'helper'....guess which one it was.

That's right. The kit I bought 14K miles ago was burnt to high Heaven. Once I put the new rotor on, it ran like it was leaving the factory. (I'm sure it's not all a mechanical problem, I did my best to run-down everything my 'helper' has said in the past two years-while I was borrowing his vehicle. I figured if the Gods are on his side, might as well give him a clear win. and he did. Watch out for cheap-o parts guys! I only paid $60 for that cap/rotor set!)