Toyota Repair: car wont start, toyota camry, battery place


Question
My 98 Toyota Camry 2.2L 4 cyl Auto has about 90K miles on it.  I'ts never had any issue with starting until last night.  When I tried to start it the lights came on for a split second and it started to turn (for a split second) and then silence and the lights were out.  Not even the idiot lights would come on.  I was able to get a jump and get it home OK but when I shut it off and tried to restart it the same thing happened.  I then noticed that a relay in the box just inside the left fender was clicking (despite the fact that the key was out of the ignition).  I then removed it and noticed that there was another fainter clicking coming from behind the relay/use box somewhere (?inside the dash somewhere?).  This clicking has persisted now for 24 hours.  To me this doesn't sound like just the battery (If it was it would be much easier for me as I could just drive it to a battery place and not to the dealer which is much further away and harder to get an appt at).  What do you think it is and where should I take it(dealer vs. battery place)?  

Answer
It sounds to me like the battery is not able to be recharged by the alternator, the battery place should be able to check alternator output and the battery as well so I think you should do that, the clicking noises are probably coming from the anti-theft system, this is normal when the battery voltage is too low.