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I have a '98 Toyota Camry that I have personally owned for a fairly short time but it has been in the family for the 13 years of it's life. In recent years, the windows have gone up and down slower, the interior lights (for the AC and heat dials) do not come on for while until the car has been running for a while, the radio often will not turn on if it is not turned off before turning the car off, among other small electrical tics that I only remember when they happen.
When the car belonged to my father, my brother and I both had the suspicion that these problems were the sign that the alternator needed to be replaced, as to my understanding, it powers the electrical elements of the car and recharges the battery when the car is running. He did not think that was the issue and would not have it replaced, claiming that the issue was somewhere else.
Does this sound like the alternator needs to be replaced or is there something else potentially going on?  

i have an under 5 minute test... that will narrow down the problems...  this really does work.....


take a digital volt meter...  they start at 7 bucks and you don't need to spend more than 25 for one...


set it to 20 volts DC scale...


start the engine.. turn on the headlights...


1.  measure from the positive battery post to the negative battery post...    14.1 to 14.8 volts is expected...


2.  measure from the Negative battery post to the engine block.. ...........   0.04 volts is expected


3.  measure from the Negative battery post to the body of the car...          0.02 volts is expected..


4.  measure from the Engine block to the body of the car..............            0.02 volts is expected..


if you get 0.00 on tests 2, 3, 4... change the meter setting to 2 volts DC scale and retest 2, 3, 4..

please post your readings.. by number..

this is the first test to *** and it finds the biggest problems up front..   the car has to pass these readings or you cannot go farther...

it took me longer to type this than it will for you to test the car.

normal charging voltage is 14.1 to 14.8 volts... if you don't get that... there is a problem..

tests 2, 3, 4 show that the individual parts are properly grounded.. so there will be enough electrons when you need to operate something...     voltage readings over 0.04 or 0.02 volts show that there is a ground problem..

post your results...