The first problem I noticed today was that I rolled down my window and it wouldn't roll back up. I thought oh crap not the window regulator again. I shut the car off and try it again and luckily the window goes back up.

Now I've driven the car for an hour, stopped it for a while then drove around town for errands turned the car on and off a few times in the process. Now I get home and then when I try to go out this evening it won't start.

I notice the lights are still on in the car but dim. When I turn the key it clicks a little then stops and when I try again it doesn't make a noise. I can turn on the headlights but it dims the car. I took a multimeter to the battery and it's at around 12 volts (didn't disconnect the terminals). Checked fuses and none of those were gone. I've jiggled the distributor and thought one was loose pushed it in but still nothing. I haven't checked the spark plugs because the sprinklers came on and didn't get to take off distributor. Any ideas what the problem could be?

 

alternator?

 

How do I check that? Do I have to get under the car and remove splash shields or is there a way I can do it from above?

 

I think u can check it with your multimeter while the engine is running. It should read around 14 volts.
edit: check it at the battery terminals

 

Can you jump start the car and see if it continues to run when jump cables are off. If it continues, measure battery voltage at 1.5k rpm, it should be 14.1-14.4V.

Can you put another battery in to check if your starter is working?

 

+1, do that while car is running normal it should read between 14 to 14.7V
u can jump start the car to see if ur car is starting to shut after cables r off...if it does ur alternator is gone....and u dont need to rev the car....u rev it to check amps not volts...and make sure ur Battery ground is gud....ur car wouldnt start cuz ur battery isnt getting charged and ur starter isnt getting enough juice to turn ur engine over...basically ntn is getting enough juice in ur car to turn things up ie ur window motor

 

[QUOTE=burhan92SE;7152968....u rev it to check amps not volts...[/QUOTE]

To everyone reading this: never 'check amps' around battery with conventional multimeter, you'll burn it. 'Checking amps' there requires special ampermeter not usually found around the house.

 

dude... i didn't say to check amps with multimeter from battery?..i meant to say '' you rev the engine to check amps generating by alternator clipping the amp meter clamp on the cable coming from alternator either with the automatic machine which still requires u to rev the engine to 2.5K rpm'' u said ''measure battery voltage at 1.5k rpm, it should be 14.1-14.4V.'' u dont need to rev it it should be getting that Volts at regular idling

 

Check your battery and altenator output and all connections and grounds!