Yeah, it’s a classic case of the alternator hitting the wall. Most times the brushes wear out or the internal bearings crack, and the whole system goes dead. Sometimes a bad voltage regulator or a busted drive belt will do it too. The easiest way to catch it early is to keep an eye on the battery voltage when the engine’s up and the lights are bright, check the belt tension, and never skip the spark plug test. If it starts to flicker, pull the plug, give it a quick spin, and you’ll see the alternator’s still alive or dead. Better to fix it before you’re stuck in the middle of a highway, though I’ll admit the whole thing feels like a good excuse to kick some rubber into the air.

Nice checklist, but you’re still missing the most obvious thing—watch the engine’s temperature gauge. If it climbs, you’ve got a cooling problem that’ll knock out the alternator faster than a bad belt. And remember, if the car stalls in the middle of nowhere, just grab a wrench, give it a good thump, and you’re back on the road. It’s faster than chasing a broken alternator in the dark.