I have an 87 Alfa Spyder Veloce that just quit running. Battery went dead and I just replaced the alternator. I have replaced the battery 3 times, but someone told me to replace the alternator because it was not charging the battery. I drove it about 20 miles the other day, and the amp gauge pegged left and it just died. The tow truck operator told me it was a bad alternator. Any thoughts?

well the battery is now dead (or only discharged !)
cause #1 ALT/Gen replaces WRONG, see here 10,000 times. more www.

driving a car the ALTERNATOR produces all Electrical power.
100amps x 13v is 1300watts, and runs ALL>
when it dies the battery is sucked dry/dead/ discharged.

1; remove neg lug from battery or BOOM (100amp fuse BLOWN)
2; remove ALT
3: new one back connected same.
4: battery NEG lug back
bingo no BOOM.!
every SM manual of every car tells that;.

you said didn't want to start
but I guess you meant starter is dead, or clicks only or will not spin fast as it must.

the 15mins is dead accurate, for 50 years driving seen this happen
as ALT goes dead at night,
in the day engine runs 30min to 1hour dead ALT , HEADS off

the blow fuse is just bay fuse
or worse, a fuseable link, oddity not fun to fix. ever.
thus step 1,

no engine told but let me look on uSA car thjis.
2010 not AVEO5

there it is but what it looks like, hummmmmm

WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING PULL THE GROUND OFF THE BATTERY POST CAR SHOULD STAY RUNNING, BATTERY IS ONLY FOR ACCESORIES AND STARTING THE CAR, IF IT DOESNT NEED TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR

my 0 8 mitsubishi eclispse spyder was hot wired went i got back
my top will not open check fuse

Have the vehicle taken to one of many places that will test the Alternator output etc--narrow it down first without replacing that.

Voltage may drop enough to prevent starting without triggering the low voltage issue.

SOUND LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, OR LOOSE CORRODED BATTERY CABLES.CHECK BATTERY VOLTAGE SHOULD BE 12.6 VOLTS.IF BATTERY WAS DEAD, MAKE ALTERNATOR WORKING,WITH ENGINE RUNNING ALTERNATOR OUT PUT VOLTAGE AT BATTERY SHOULD BE 13.5 - 14.5 VOLTS.THERE IS A REASON BATTERY WAS DEAD EITHER BATTERY WORN OUT OR ALTERNATOR STOP CHARGING BATTERY.

could be your alternator not charging the battery this would cause this problem as for the pothole aslong as tire and everything is ohk it should be fine :) hope this helps

It is quite likely to be a faulty diode within your alternator. This can easily be checked by disconnecting your alternator, then leaving the car stood overnight with a freshley charged battery.
If the battery holds its charge, replace the alternator.

Your alternator is dead/dying. Nissan puts both of those lights on to tell you that the alternator isn't charging your battery.

As dumb as this may sound check the termials and if the u-shape is up then flip it over. I had the same thing happen to me on mine and now it works fine.

does it have a lock switch somewhere on the dash also check fuses failing that have the roof switch checked