I need some help!

I was at a basketball game thursday night and it snowed about six inches in the 3 hrs I was there. When I left, the roads were snowed in pretty deep, so I was bucking through some really fluffy powder. About half-way home (the gymn was about 5-6 miles from my house) the battery light came on. I attributed it to the fact that I was doing 25 in 4th gear, and that with headlights, wipers, etc, that the engine speed just wasn't high enough. I dropped down in to low range (2nd gear) and the rpms went up around 2600, and the light went out. About 5 mins later, the light came on again, and I couldn't get it to go out at all.

yesterday, I was sick most of the day, so I didn't get a chance to look into things (I had plugged the block heater in thursday night when I got home)

this morning, I had to run an errand, so I had my dad start the car while he was outside. He said that it turned right over quick-like and fired on the second time around. But the battery light was still on. He thought maybe my alternator had some ice on it, and after the engine warmed up, it would be fine. I went to leave, and by this time, due to the rear window defroster being on, the battery was so dead that my horn wouldn't work, blinkers wouldn't work, and my headlights were practically invisible. I turned off the car and took my dad's truck instead.

What could have happened? did my voltage regulator freeze? I popped the hood and there is no visible ice or snow on the alternator or the wiring terminal block.

What gives? Hopefully not something $$$

__________________
-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

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