If the radio, an lights come on in my minivan does that mean the starter or the alternator has gone bad?

It might be a battery also. Alternator is also a possibility. If its a cd player that was installed then it might be the wiring. If not turn Your lights on and have someone blow the horn and see if the lights dim and get brighter (to check the battery)Also unplug 1 of the battery cables and if the car stalls then its most likely the alternater.

A bad wire or switch might be a problem if the lights all come on when You start it. Maybe a set timer?

Get it checked out at a shop. A battery could have enough of a charge to let the lights and radio work but not enough to turn the starter. A Starter uses 100+ amps to turn over. A radio uses less than 10 amps at the maximum. Loose or corroded battery cables, bad starter, bad alternator, bad battery. Could be any of these.

the starter. if the alternator will be faulty, you're battery will be dead. one things i need to add is, when you check the battery using to your lights, don't use your dash lights or radio. turn on your head lights, if they look low then is your battery. the interior lights and radio only require small amounts of energy and sometimes the battery could be bad but strong enough to turn those things on.

Probably the battery.... get the car started then check the alternator... the starter has nothing to do with a low battey...

well it could be your starter..or a fuel pump maybe...can you hear the pump kick on when you turn the ignition? and if so then yes its probably your starter...you can pick one up pretty cheap and there not that hard to put on either...GOOD LUCK!

You have a faulty alternator which is back feeding from the battery,honestly I have never before read such garbage as the answers above,talk about the blind leading the blind.

Are you sure it's not just someone getting into your car and turning everything on? When you insert your key and turn it to the ACC position, all the instruments and accessories that were left on will turn on.

try to push your car back a foot and try starting it. I did that and it worked which meant it was my timing chain. Sometime you can develop a bald spot on it. When you push the car back it moves it to a spot that the belt gets friction enough to start.

your starter, alternator helps charge your battery, if the alternator was out you would have little power....