[xappie]

I can't really help you alot but I can offer this:

If the alternator is working, you should get a charge between 13.5V to 14.6V across the battery terminals when the car is running (after the car warms up and the alternator kicks in.) If you aren't getting this charge, the battery light on the dash will come on. This is how I tested mine on the weekend when my battery light came on and I took it down to Crappy Tire and they put in a new one. Note to self: if you short out the alternator with wrench it is not covered by warranty. :(

To take the alternator out: (from my Haynes manual)
- Disconnect the battery!
- Remove the retaining bolt from the coolant overflow tank and move the tank to the side
- Remove the drivebelt
- lift the power steering resevoir from its bracket and move to one side
- uscrew the bolt from the wiring loom bracket and move the wiring to one side
- remove the ground cable and optionally CAREFULLY bend down the bracket that the ground (engine to chasis?) is attached to to get it out of the way
- remove the two bolts from the canister purge valve and move to one side
- remove the plastic cover, unscrew the nut, and disconnect the wiring from the back of the alt.
- uncsrew and remove the alt. mounting bolt nearest the engine
- unscrew the other bolt until it has fully disengaged from the bracket (it is not possible to remove the bolt from the alt. at this stage)
- carefully lift the alternator from the engine, turning it with the pulley facing upwards - take care not to damage the surrounding components on removal as there is little room to maneuver the alt.

hope that helps!