wifes battry light comes on, tested alt. need new one . engine has a very bad smell comeing from alt. area , smells kinda like burning plastic. could this be from alt.[:'(] I have heard of bad alternators making grinding or whineing noises when they go bad , but not of any smelling like burnt plastic.

 

Oh man you let the smoke out didn't you know smoke is what makes electronic parts work LOL actually sounds like a bad bearing in the alternator the only way to fix it is replace it or have it rebuilt

 

Or the alternator could have locked up and the belt is burning...