Alternator or Battery?

Hi All, I have a 2005 taco and it wouldn't start tonight when I went to go home. I was able to jump start it, but when I turned on the lights, the stereo started having issues. I have read several threads that said this is what happens when the alternator is out, however I didn't think the truck would run without the alternator (without killing the battery). Any suggestions on what I could do to pinpoint my issue without having to take it into the repair shop? Also no battery warning lights either. Thanks in advance!

 

free test at your local parts house...

 

when tonis alternator died he made it all the way to va

 

A weak battery will not take a good charge. You are right that if the alternator isn't working you can't keep the engine running past the life of the battery, becuz the battery has to send a small but not insignificant charge to the alternator to make it operate. No light? I'm guessing new battery time.

 

I had my alternator die on an old Nissan truck I had, first thing to go was my stereo, it started turning off randomly, then the lights dimmed and I started slowing down, I was able to pull off the road before it completely died. I was able to jump it but that's just because the person jumping me charged up my battery again.. at first I thought it was the battery, after autozone replace 3 for me they were like hmmm maybe its your alternator so they tested it and they said it was bad. So I bought new one and installed it and my truck still wouldn't start!! i was so pissed... they sold me a bad alternator so i took it back out and went and had them replace it... haha that was a crappy week