Peterid

I was driving my wife's 1996 Grand Cherokee Laredo and I suddenly had the check gauges light turn on. I looked and noticed that the battery was reading as dead, though all the electrics work and it starts up just fine. It also started running VERY hot and the power steering just stopped functioning. Luckily I was close to home and managed to limp back and park it. I waited awhile to let it cool down, but when I started it again, I still had no power steering and it began to run very hot almost immediately after I drove it in a circle around the parking lot. The battery gauge also dropped back to 0. Over last last month it has stalled a few times and had felt just kind of sluggish, the RPM gauge always looks low. Any ideas what may be causing this?

EDIT: I did check to be sure that it has power steering fluid. The tank is about half full.

Peterid

Found the issue. The belt slipped off and got shredded by the radiator fan. One problem solved, at least. Now to fix the issue.

PatriotGT

glad you found it and not trying to be a smart a$$, but didn't you
notice the missing belt while checking the power steering fluid?