help: what could be the problem

[JDM_180SX]

i own 1990 240sx. it has 126k miles. all stock. great car until now, i recently went ona trip to california for a week. i left my car parked outside in cold weather. i come back,a nd i try and start the car. the battery is dead. so i decide to try and jump start it, it starts up fine after that, i let it run for about 5 mins, then as i remove the jumper cables the car just shuts off. so i think it might be a shot battery. so i go out and buy a new battery. i install that and it starts up fine. but i notice all types of electric problems, like the winshield wipers are going crazy and wont turn off, the tachometer is all spastic, a weird whistle noise comes on when i turn on the heater. when i shiftr gears or apply the break or try to use the automatic windows. my radio turns off. weirdness.

but then the next morning i try to start my car and the battery is dead again. so something is just draining power. and i think the alternator is shot. the car must of just been running off the battery when it was running. i try charging the battery back up. i get the car running but as soon as i disconnect the charger cables the car just turns off. is this thr alternator or bad grounding, and if so can this be done my a beginner like me?

any inputs would be nice.

-nick

[DAEDALUS]

Yeah, I think it's probably a bad alternator. They often cause all kinds of weird electrical problems, unlike a dead battery. It's not too hard a job on most cars. Usually a couple of bolts holding it in, plus you have to remove whatever belts and trim/moulding that might be in the way. Sorry, I'm not familiar with your car in particular, so I can't give better details.

[Mayhem_J30]

nick, please try not to double post. check the technical section under 240's for several replys

[JDM_180SX]

sorry, i read a topic saying i should post on this board, because i dont wanna miss out what yall have to say. just thought i would give it a shot.