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I am on the 3rd battery for my 1999 Ford Taurus SE/6-cylinder/3.0engine/24valve overhead cam..............I just bought this 3rd one a week ago, for $75.00.  I drove it about 30 miles and the dash lights went dim, headlights went dim, car just died on me and is sitting at a neighbor's house now.  Some people are telling me its the Alternator.  Some say its the Starter.  I found a used Alternator at a junk yard for $50.  But don't want to take that option?  I found someone who said if I charged the battery for 4 hours and got the car to his garage, he would take it out, repair it to new, and install it, for about $100-$160 dollars????  Someone tested the Alternator last year and it was fine,  running strong.  Help!!!  What part to I need to buy?  This is my only transportation.  Single Mom on disability with 2 kids, recovering from brain surgery,  need to get to the doctor appointments and the store for food.  Can anyone tell me which way to go?  Alternator or Starter.

you need the alternator replaced, if the starter was bad then the car would not have started up to be driven, the alternator puts power back into the battery, and if the alternator is no good, your car is running off the power thats in the battery, and when the battery is finally drained then the car will die, simple test to do... charge up the battery and then start up the car, with the car running disconnect one of the battery cables positive or negative it doesent matter , if the car dies  the alternator is no good and needs to be replaced , if the car continues to run once one of the cables are disconnected then the alternator is good... I hope this helps, this should solve your problem!