The other night the battery and brake lights came on. Took the car to autozone the next day, had them test my battery. They said it was a bad battery so I purchased a new one.

Coming home from work the same day, I noticed my lights were very dim, the dashlights, etc. On the freeway, I slammed on the gas but my car acceleration had slowed and slowed to a stop. I pulled over to the shoulder and turned on my hazards. Even the hazards starting slowing down as if power was draining from the car.

After googling around, I was sure my alternator was the problem. AAA guy said the same.

Went to Autozone got two alternators. They said, "if your VIN begins with a 1 or a 4, get this one." Didn't think my car needed anything special. It didn't work. The second one I got from another autzone. They said, "if your VIN begins with a 2, take this one." This time, I tell them, my VIN begins with a J. Still, they tell me, their alternator is from Canada and the first number in my VIN sequence is 2 so it should work, it didn't.

Tried an independent alternator shop who was adamant that they had the right alternator. Installed and it didn't work.

Called toyota and they've got the special order alternator, took my VIN, etc.

I only self-diagnosed the problem. Could it be a fuse or wire? Does this actually sound like it is the alternator?