The battery light has just come on in my van, and the alternator feels rather hot to the touch. Is this a common sign of failure? I'm just trying to find a volt meter now!

Cheers.

Next door's car did this a couple of years ago, the alternator was discharging the battery and was so hot we had to leave it with the battery disconnected overnight to remove the alternator. The diodes had gone in it.

Cheers Pete. At the garage it was still charging but started smoking as we looked at it. I'm now 180 lighter!