Of course, it had to fail today.
In stop & go traffic.
With the wife & 3 mini Oafs.
Did I mention it was 100F?

Symptoms were like this:
Charge light & Brake light came on for a few seconds then went out after I fiddled with the P brake handle.
About 30 minutes later, I noticed that the speedo & tach would go to zero whenever I used the turn signal, radio wouldn't work, and few other goofy happenings.
"Hmmm, this is interesting" I mentioned to Mrs Oaf.
A few miuntes later, the car starts to loose power; pedal to the floor, engine hesitates.
I make to the In & Out in Davis and park. Try to start, no juice.
Noticed the NAPA auto parts across the street. Pulled the battery & alternator out and have them both tested.
Kid behind the couter said the alternator was good, but that the 1yr old Optima had a dead cell.
Questioned him but he re-assured me...& took $60 for a new battery.

I make it as far as the North Texas street exit in Vacaville(?) when the above symptoms return.

"%)!@*&", I uttered so as not let my kids hear me.

Made it to the ARCO just off the freeway. Located a reman alternator at Vaca Valley Autoparts...for $181!
Did I mention that Vaca Valley was 4 miles, one way, away?
Oh, and they don't deliver.

Luckily, I hitched a ride most of the way but had to hoof back.

Once I got the car running, I drove back to the store to retrive the $70 ransom I left for the core. Mentioned what the kid at NAPA told me to the guys at Vaca Valley, how the kid used a fancy battery checker with lcd display to tell me my battery was DOA.

"Like this one?" one of the Vaca Valley boys says, holding up the identical battery tester.

"Yup", I replied.

"Well, you gotta program the tester by telling what type of battery you wanna test. Your Optima is fine, the kid tested it incorrectly."

"%)!@*&", I uttered so as not let my kids hear me as the man behind the counter refunded my core ransom.

"Have a great day!", counterman yelled as I walked back into the heat.

Did I mention it was 100F?