I was driving my car home from work yesterday and I watched the voltage gauge drop all the way down. pulled off the road, got a jump and tested the alt. it read 11.7 volts. took the alt off and had it bench tested, and it was perfect. thinking it is a wire somewhere. does anyone have the charging system wiring diagrams, or know what it might be? seems like the car is running just off of the battery

 

YOU SHOULD READ 14 VOLTS CAR RUNNING AND THE BATTERY NOT CONNECTED TO TEST THE ALT.

 

I have this same problem. I'm sure mine's a short though. Perhaps yours is as well?

 

Found that the fan and the alternator run on the same fuse. There was a short in one of the wires going to the alt which tripped the "fan" fuse. Replaced the wire and the fuse and now it works again.

 

That's good to hear!