Art,
Here's a little more information that might help.
I really don't think that this is a problem with the charging circuit and here's why:
My mechanic did put a new batter in the car yesterday. He didn't feel that this was causing the problem but he did a cell test on the battery (with the thing that floats the balls) and said that two of the cells were very weak.
As I said, he didn't feel that this was the problem but since he couldn't figure anything else out he suggested we pick the car up and drive it for a while to see what happened.
Well last night my daughter started the car and put it in reverse. I'm not sure what she did, but she killed it (automatic transmission) and when she tried to restart it, we got the same symptom as before.....battery seemed like it was really depleted and would barely turn over.
As I said, this was with a brand new battery with a full charge so that pretty much takes the alternator not functioning out of the equation (If I'm thinking correctly).
As I said, I hope this gives you some other ideas. Both I and the mechanic are at a loss as to what's going on.

Thanks again,
Dave
--
I dream of a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned.