Nissan Repair: 96 Nissan Maxima Charging Failure, nissan maxima, pullys

Question
My daughter and son were driving my maxima to school this morning and smelled smoke as they arrived at school. They said it was the same smell as when a vacuum cleaner belt melts or burns itself up in our home.
The car quit running on their way home, while the belt looks chewed on it is still intact. I jump started the car
to a start after a 5 minute charge. It quit running as soon as the cables were unattached. The S-belt looked like it was trying to slip through the pulleys I could see-ie:it doesn't look right, The car has to much power usage to limp the 2 miles home (EFI,etc)at least with the lights on. Should I suspect a dead and frozen alternator? What else would would stop the belt and run the power down simultaneously?
Would very cold temperatures compound this or these problems?
Can I change an alternator myself?

Answer
an alternator, power steering pump as well as the ac pump will all create these symptoms if the pullys are freezing.   the smell is exactly that, the rubber trying to spin around a stuck pully.  you have to locate which pully isnt operating correctly and replace that unit.  time to be a detective.  good luck.