Hi there, can you guys help diagnose my cars problem?

I have a 2005 05 plate 1800 Zetec Focus C-Max, Yesterday I started hearing a whirring noise (like a mini's power steering pump) under the bonnet which rose in pitch with revs, then when driving home in the evening the battery light came on, the approaching a set of traffic lights at around 20mph the power steering warning came on, then when we stopped the car engine died. We restated it and this happened twice again until we got home (only 3 miles from the initial cut out). Started the car this morning to measure the voltage but sadly ammeter battery was dead so could not take a reading, when I went to start again it turned over once then went would not even turn and had the clicking relay noise.

I believe this is an alternator, a) is this correct and b) how easy will this be to change myself on this particular car.

Thanks for your help and sadly my first post on this site is not a positive one!

 

Check the auxillary belt is the correct tension, that whining noise would be a loose auxially belt 99% of the time, if it's loose, re tension, charge the battery and give it another go.

 

Thanks for that!

 

Not a problem.

 

Checked the belt and it seemed tight still, would this still be the tensioner.

 

Wants about 1/2 inch of play. If it's alright, i'd get a cheapo Multimeter and check it's alright. Also make sure all the terminals are tight, including battery.