> Is this the car battery or the alternator?

Is this the car battery or the alternator?

Posted at: 2015-01-07 
Get the battery charged and load-tested. If it fails load-test, replace it. Start car, and check alternator with voltmeter. Pos. to big lug rear of alt. under rubber boot, neg. to clean metal ground. Output should be on order of 14.8V. If it reads 12-12.5V, you/re just getting batt. voltage and alt. is shot. Easy to replace yourself.

Don't know why you want guesses. You should be charging your battery with portable battery charger set at 12 volts...10 amps...for 6 hours and then try starting the motor. If it starts drive to the nearest auto store and have them test the alternator and battery for you.

start the car and disconnect the battery, if the car dies after a bit it is the alternator.

sounds like you ran the battery down while trying to start it this sounds like another issue possibly the starter

2000 Ford Mustang V6

Car refuses to turn on

When you put the key in the ignition and turn the key over before you start the rpm's, car mph, temperature all go to the max, and then you hear a 'click' which I believe is the alarm and everything goes back to the lowest. then when you turning on the car it does not turn it on! at first I heard it crank with a grinding noise, but then I tried 20 minutes and it was a rumbling noise.

dash lights seem to be working, and so are the car lights. but the wipers are moving very slow than usual....and the windows are going VERY slow. I have not driven the car in about 4-5 days...could this be a dead battery...or -gulp- even worse, the alternator?