Electrical Problem
 

Ok here goes:

It's been raining here pretty hard, and today on the way home i had to drive through a rather large puddle. I have a feeling I hurt the car in some way. The rest of the drive home, all the idiot lights on the dash stayed on after cranking, except the SRS and Check Engine light. The wiper would not work at full speed, and would dim the dash lights with every time it went back and forth. Later on in the day, the SRS light came on, and the lights dimmed even more. It started raining again and forced me to turn on the wipers and headlights once again. At the next stop sign, the car died. It wouldn't even crank. I attempted to jump it, and got it started, but it would die 10 seconds after the cables were removed.

I got the car towed home, took the battery to sears, and got it replaced under warranty. I didnt think it was the battery, but since it only costed 3 dollars, i got it done anyway. The car started, and I got it moved into its spot. However, all the lights on the dash are still on. I have a feeling I need to get the alternator replaced, but I'm afraid I also could have damaged something when I had to go through the puddle.

Anything helps.
Thanks!

-E

UPDATE:

Went out to the car this morning, and everything was dead, dash lights wouldn't even come on.

So I guess it's not the alternator. Probably a short somewhere. Any insight?

Your diagnostic logic sure beats me. I have to get into a real deep dream to come up with anything other than the alternator. Of course it could be the belt.

One thing I am sure about though is that retail stores are going belly up giving away batteries to anyone draining them. Just think at 3 dollars a drive batteries are almost as cheap as gas. Why fix the car.