2006 Five Hundred. Great running until today. Wouldn't crank but lights/radio worked. When I turned the key off the dash went crazy. It won't let me upload the videos, but if you email me I'll send them (ticketsy19@gmaildotcom).

I got it jumped and it started and I attempted to drive home. It started to hesitate as I was driving and then I could no longer accelerate, and then it died. None of the lights worked and i couldnt roll the windows up. I got it towed home and the tow guy hooked it up to a jump start pack and battery reader. It started up again and he said the meter said it was charging so he left but the car died again. The check engine light came on then turned off. The battery was dead and it wouldn't start however the interior lights kept turning on and off with this clicking sound.

Is this an alternator or battery issue?

Thanks in advance!

 

It could be one or the other or both or neither.

Before condemning any parts, always a good move to check and make sure the battery cable connections at the battery and the vehicle are clean and tight,
You can pull on them to see if they are tight, but to see if they are clean
THE CABLES CONNECTIONS MUST BE REMOVED AND ACTUALLY CLEANED.
THERE CAN BE OXIDATION AT THE CONNECTIONS AND NOT BE VISIBLE AND THAT IS WHY THEY MUST BE REMOVED CLEANED THEN REINSTALLED.

Faulty connections there can prevent a good alternator from charging a good battery.
Since a jump always seems to solve the starting problem ,It appears the battery can't supply the power required and it could be only dirty connections.

 

So the negative cable was super corroded. I bought a new battery and cleaned the cable connectors. The car hesitated a second then started and stayed running, however the check engine light is on now and the power steering pump I just had replaced is now loud again.

 

So my mechanic came and scanned the car, it read low voltage from the previous saved something off the old battery. CEL is off.

Would the battery being bad have caused the car to die while driving like that or can I expect the same thing to happen even though I have a new battery?

 

So the car is running although that battery light is still on. Started leaking power steering fluid, I just replaced the pump 2 months ago so it's more then likely the rack and pinion?

Do I just call it quits and sell it or should I keep pumping money into it? Eventually it'll be like new again 😂😂

 

Could your expense be related to some misdiagnosis ?

You appear to be learning and many times schooling doesn't come cheap. I guess it is possible both the PS pump was defective and rack might have a problem, but It seems like I'm not the only one guessing here.
You could get all kinds of assistance from a forum, but they can't see what you have the opportunity to see and if you provide incomplete info , you could be misled too.

It might be a good move to have an experienced shop check your vehicle thoroughly before investing any more money. Guessing can get expensive.