Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: 1986 buick, buick electra park avenue, buick electra

Question
1986 Buick Electra Park Avenue with the 3.8 liter engine.  I'm driving home and the warning light for the charging system comes on.  Since I'm only a block or two from home, I drive on home.  Engine is running fine.  I guess my alternator has bit the dust.  I park the car in the garage.  The next morning, I go to check it out and the battery is completely dead.  No dome light even.  This makes no sense to me.  I put a trickle charger on the battery.  The small amount of current that puts in the system starts the alarm that goes off when the key is in the ignition and the door opens sounding weakly.  Only the key is not in the ignition.  I figure out which fuse runs this alarm and pull it and leave the charger on the battery.  After some time, the battery is still not charged and the alternator is warm to the touch.  I take out both the alternator and the battery and put the battery on the trickle charger again.  The next morning, I take the alternator and the battery to have them tested. Battery tests ok.  Alternator tests bad.  I get a new alternator and install it and the battery back in the vehicle.  Now the engine turns over rapidly enough to start, but the engine doesn't start.  I check for spark and find I have no fire.  Meanwhile, I put the fuse back in that the alarm runs through and now the alarm is working when it is supposed to.  YIKES>


Answer
Hello Mr Wite,
Low voltage makes those on-board computers, often called modules, do some strange things. I had a minivan for a couple hundred thousand miles, and could tell when I was going to need a battery by the rear windshield wiper coming on intermittently, all by itself.
Look at the fuses again, and see if there isn't one labeled ign, and see if it is ok.
Also, take a good look at the wire harness where it is wrapped around, and maybe under the alternator, and see if there are any signs of it maybe rubbing through and shorting.

Good luck,
Van