My truck(87 4runner 22re 4x4) wont hold a charge I tried to replace the foglights but the PO did a bad job wiring it. and somehow I shorted something..

I know the turn signals and the tac. dont work right now. It also is not charging.
It will run when I jump start it but it wont run for very long, and if i turn the lights on it lugs really bad..
Im going to get a new alt. right now.

Any ideas on what I should do, or how I should go about fixing whats wrong?

 

Have you had the battery checked to see if its good ?.

 

have you checked the charging system fuse in the fuse box on the passenger side fenderwell? might not be the alternator at all.

 

Yeah I checked all the fuses.
I doubt its the battery. Its only about 1year old..
its not the alt either... Checked it at autozone.

 

have you checked the battery voltage ? did the truck come with a idiot light or a volt meter ? if it has a idiot light see if is come on,the idiot light is the exciter curcuit for the alt.