i replaced the alternator a few years ago - and the battery a few days ago.
I have a good idea that it has to do with a fuse in the dash fuse box - when i was young i would hook up accessories by tying wires around fuses and shoving them into the slots of the dash fuse box. This problem happened before - where a fuse that apparently keeps the battery charged, wasnt connecting right. The mechanix adjusted the fuse and it worked fine, however i think its happening again since i was fiddling around.. and im not sure what fuse it is. anyone?

 

Your post and please excuse me, begs the question of why do you insist on doing things that distroy/spreads the fuse holders.
An old saying goes like this 'if you do what you always did you get what you always got' ....a problem. Stop playing like that.
There is an inline fuse to the alternator.
There is an inline fuse to the charge lamp and on to the alternator.
Is the Red lamp on?
Use a voltmeter to test for voltage levels with the engine 'running' to see if charging is going on. Should be 14.4 volts or more.
Be sure the plug to the alternator is firmly in place.
The alternator could aways be suspect now as well as these other possabilities.

 

hey- like i said in the post....when i was young- aka didnt know any better - I definitely know not to screw around with that anymore...
The inline fuse to charge lamp is where?
what red lamp on?

 

Check fuse 19, a 10 amp fuse. This one is in the charge lamp circuit (red on the dash) . You normally see it every time you start the motor.
The regulator fuse is an inline type of 20 amp. Find it by following the orange/lite blue lead off the alternator plug back to the large 175 amp mega fuse.
If you find no problem with these fuses, you have to start with a voltmeter to check if the alternator is charging at all.
Or maybe there is a drain fault.
This is all there is to the circuit besides the battery, cables and harness/plug.
Good luck.