Belt Elephant

Is it the battery, the alternator, or the contacts?

2008 Checy Aveo, wouldn't start after work. Made a ping, then a horn sound, but weak, like a dying elephant on valium or something. Then clicking. Fast clicking. Jumped the car, since I thought it must be electrical. Jump worked instantaneously. Removed the leads immediately, and kept the car running. It kept running, and I drove home (20 minutes away.) 2 hours later, it won't start again. I checked the leads, and there's a fair amount of (presumably salt) under the red cap over the positive lead. I remember how expensive my last alternator was on a different car. I've no desire to spend that kind of money, and am afraid of getting soaked on the repair. I don't know anybody around here...although I could bring it to the dealer, I'd rather avoid that if I can. There has been no smell to indicate a belt has snapped, and I've had no trouble with the headlights at all. None of the other electrical components have been weak or given any trouble at all. Any ideas?

Quick way to check the alternator is to start the car, and then disconnect the battery. If the car dies, the alternator is bad. Once vehicles are running, they run off the alternator, not the battery. The battery is there for starting, and some secondary components such as the clock when the vehicle is off, but that's about it. It doesn't sound like an alternator, because a battery wouldn't normally run for 20 minutes home like it did. Next step is to have the battery checked (AutoZone does it free.), or replaced.

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