z,

looking at the back of alternator , i can see the nut holding the blue wire (connector below the exciter stud) has backed off from the alternator itself, leaving the washers free to spin.
maybe that be it?
like i said, no problems with lights or charging before i left. hate the "while you slept or were gone gremlins"

am waiting for fuel pump, job i put off while gone for 2 months, so no hurry on alt check.

gary c.