Quote Originally Posted by del...
yeah, i've used the old "alternater went out on me and left me stranded..." a couple times. it'll fit with your story too as the battery will drain if the alt/starter isn't working, eventually shutting down everything and usually without warning, except for the idiot light (which doesn't work an many older vehicles...at least ones i've owned). it takes some time to pull out and replace and if there's a junk yard nearby you can also add the time it takes to pull out the replacement. they run around 2-400 to fix...just had one put into my '85 toyota p/u and it cost 200 even but was done by a friend and was told it would easily be half-again that much if done by a mechanic...so go from there for your story details...
Yeah, I was gonna say the alternator...it charges the battery from the belt and when it dies...your car will too...though sometimes it gives you a while of acting funny for a while before it dies...