alternator might be bad

[fetherw8]

lately when i drive my car around it drives normal then like a week later just starts sputtering and dies. when i try to turn it back on the battery is to drained to turn it over. ive been monitoring the voltage lately and every time i drive the voltage goes down more and more. im guessing its the alternator cuz the battery is 2 weeks old. when i looked for an alternator on checker autos websight it says to check the lamp circuit for a blown fuse. what is a lamp circuit? i wanna make sure its the alternator thats bad before i blow money on a new one

[Vegascorbin]

Good bet that the Altinator is bad.

That lamp Circuit they are talking about is the warning lamp on the dash. If that lamp is not in the circuit then the Altinator WILL NOT charge. The Lamp should light for a short time at startup as a way to check the bulb. IF it does not then you either have a blown fuse or the bulb is bad. If you bypass that lamp and run voltage direct to the altinator then bad things happen. (Don't ask how I know this)

You can take your Altiantor to most Auto Parts Stores and they will test it for free.

[fetherw8]

which bulb exactly is it? i had my gauge cluster out recently and it looked as if it was missing a bulb. i think it was only the bulbs to light the back of the guages to see at night.