Toyota Repair: battery problem, alternater, negative cable


Question
I have a 02 camery le,  I went to lunch car started with no problem and when I got back to my car from getting my lunch about 5 minutes car was completely dead and would not start or make any noise only dash lights came on, head lights would not turn on, a friend gave me a jump and car started back up drove back home about 30 miles on freeway and when I parked my car while the car was idle in park it shut off when rolling the window up and car would no longer start. Dark green ball is not visable by the way on the battery. do you think it's a battery or alternater problem and shouldn't of the drive home charged the battery?

Answer
Yes, the alternator should have charged up the battery, there is a quick test you can do to eliminate either the battery or the alternator as the source of the problem,jump start the car and after the engine starts remove the jumper battery, if the engine keeps running the alternator is probably not the cause, remove the negative cable from the battery and if the engine keeps running the alternator is not the cause.
If the engine dies as soon as the battery is disconnected the alternator is the problem.
If the alternator is not the problem replace the battery.