Well, I have a 98 Dodge Neon. The battery light came on, and of course shortly after the battery died, took it to the alternator shop where they tested it free, and said alternator was properly charging (battery had acid coming out of it). Well, got a new battery and the battery went dead, would work if we charged it for only a little while, so we replaced the alternator:

now the alternator has been replaced, and .this time the battery and check engine light both came on after charging the battery. I need the car for medical appointments 54 mi. away. Any suggestions?