Battery not getting recharged

Hey, I know this is most likely an alternator issue but just wondering what else I can check before going and replacing the alternator.
My car has a near new battery which i know to be in good condition.
The other morning when I went to start my car the battery was completely dead to the point where the immobiliser light wasn't even flashing, I figured I must have left a light on overnight, got my wife to jump start me, and drove to work.
Work is about 20minutes from my home mostly going at 80kph, so this should have been sufficient to recharge battery. I didn't run CD player or anything on the way to work, just headlights.
I left my alarm off while I was at work for 12 hours and when I finished my shift and went to start my car, again the battery was completely dead, I got jump started and again drove home, this time paying more attention to what the car did.
I turned the CD player on this time because I work night shift and the music helps me stay awake on the way home, I noticed every time I put the brakes on the CD player died until I took my foot off the brake, so obviously the battery isn't even regaining enough charge to power both the CD player and the brake lights while driving, After I parked the car and slept for the day I tried starting again before work and again the car didnt even have enough power to run the immobiliser.
Before that day when the car just wouldn't start I had no issue at all, one night a few weeks ago I even left an interior light on in the car all night and when I started it in the morning I had no issues.
I have heard with alternator problems there are usually some warning signs and I have had 0, all lights on the dash normal, car has been running fine etc.
What should be my first steps to troubleshooting the problem? Is alternator being broken the most likely cause or could there be another issue? Like I said, almost certain the battery is fine as it is less than a year old and has proved its strength to me recently.

Thanks in advance

 

you need a new alternator

 

Start it up and put a multimeter on it, should be getting 13 to 14v at least.

If not, alternator is screwed.

 

I had a similar issue recently (battery OK one day, no charge the next). Turned out that the battery, only a year old, had "dropped" a plate and was shorting itself out. Get the battery checked before you fork out for an alternator.

 

If the battery is so flat it can't start your car, then it would NOT allow you to drive for 20 mins immediately after jump-starting(especially if the Alternator is dead).
In most vehicles fitted with an Alternator, the battery is used to provide power UNTIL the engine fires up, at which time the Alternator takes over the job of providing the electrical needs(which includes topping-up the battery).
This is in direct contrast to the old Generator fitted cars(where the electrical needs were provided by the battery and the Generator simply recharged it during use).
My guess is that you have a 'dead short' somewhere in the electrics(probably internally in the battery)look there first.

 

to test your alternator start your car and disconnect your battery terminal if your car dies its most likely your alternator if it doesn't die it will be your battery

 

if the alternator is okay you'll be able to drive off right after a jump start...?

 

Fact

I've driven without a battery before. Can be embarressing if you stall the car.

 

Battery

"Before that day when the car just wouldn't start I had no issue at all, one night a few weeks ago I even left an interior light on in the car all night and when I started it in the morning I had no issues."

Reckon this has killed your battery. New batteries don't like it when they're nearly totally discharged.

 

Not always

If the battery has dropped a cell the alternator might struggle to run the car as the dead battery is drawing loads of current. Especially at night with headlights on.

 

If possible, check water level in the battery. Nasty Girl had similar problems ages ago.

 

You CAN read????

If the battery is so flat it can't start your car, then it would NOT allow you to drive for 20 mins immediately after jump-starting (especially if the Alternator is dead).

What is your point(I'm just trying to understand your inability to absorb my advice to fetus)?

 

Rob, everybody is telling this member that his Alt is "stuffed". I have stated more than once, that if the Alt is "stuffed" and the battery needs a jump-start, then it WON'T drive for 20+ minutes.

Where is that advice incorrect(or, where is the electrical current coming from to allow this to occur, certainly NOT from a dead flat battery)??

 

you're right lloyd you just worded it badly the first time, 3 people commenting on that would lead one to think my reading ability is not in question

remove the bold and it makes sense

 

Martin, you must have studied a different form of the English Language, than did I.
In the world in which I live, BOLD lettering does NOT alter the Grammar or Meaning of the statement being put forward for consideration(but is displayed simply to draw attention to a pertinent fact contained within the aforementioned statement).:rofl:

 

Going to jump start the car and then remove the battery and see if it still runs now by my thinking was if when its driving the cd player dies for a second when i hit the brakes the alternator is probably still producing enough power to run the car but not enough to recharge the battery?
That being said I don't know a lot about how things work so let me know your thoughts on this. Also about the water being low in the battery possibility someone mentioned, how high should the water be in it? can always top it up anywhere it seems low and see if that helps i guess.