Measure the output of the battery. If it is flat, the dash lights will flicker, indicators won't flash, etc. (on my mc18 anyway). Don't know about the PGM getting hot, if you can get it running and check the battery voltage while its running that will tell you if the Rec/Reg is working. If that's not working and you are getting too high a voltage output through the system it could make it hot? Good luck!