4runner battery charge light

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Joined
Apr 29, 2007
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37
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Location
Somerville, MA
I've got an 87 4runner, and lately whenever I shift from 1st to 2nd, 2nd to 3rd, etc or rev the engine to higher RPMs, my battery charge light flashes on, or as I push the clutch in. Battery is relatively new, alternator is new as well. It seems like it's idling fine and doesn't feel like anything is wrong, any ideas?
 
does the brake light come on too? are you sure the brake light works?

when the two come on, it means the brushes of the alternator are worn.

but if in fact the brake light is operational, and is just not illuminating, this indicates insufficient charging. but a loose connection of the battery teminals, or at the alt. could be corroded or loose.

places like Shucks/Kragen/Checker and auto zone have on the car charging system analysers, than can be used free of charge.

but these machines lack detailed reports. i suggest you call shops in your area and ask if the use a Snap-On D-TAC. this is a extremely well engineered analyser that checks the

battery: size in CCA, availible CCA, % of rated capcity availible, temperature, initial volts of test, final volts after test complets, and impedence of ohms.

starter: a pas or fail reading, low normal or high cranking volts, cranking voltage of the test initially, avaerage, and minimum volts.

alternator: pass or fail reading, idle voltage readings of ripple P-P millivolts, current, ripple P-P amps, high RPM results in the same fashion as idle.


a complete starting and charging test like this will be much more helpful in determing your problem. it will save you the time of replacing parts that dont need replaced.

but remember this test will likely cost you money. but first check your connections, like i mentioned first.

you mentioned you put a new alt. on there, but for some reason, most all new or reman alternators are not built well. so the best place to get a new one is and always has been from the dealer. Or contact CruiserDan of this site, who is a very helpful and generous guy that offers a MUD discount in most cases from his company, American Toyota.

:cheers:
 
Wristy covered it well. Get the sharging system checked, you either have a bad connection or the alternator isn't doing it's job.

And I agree on going OEM with the alternator. I had to replace mine one year ago this weekend. I was on a long trip, driving from upper Michigan back to NH, and my alt died in Canada, almost to Niagra Falls. There was no way my Optima was gonna last for 500 miles to get home, so had to get it changed. I went straight to the local dealer, but they didn't have any in stock, and it was gonna take several days to get it. The hunt was on, I finally found one at Canadian Tire, a reman'd Champion. Swapped it in the parking lot. A year later, the bearing is groaning. Crap.
 
awesome thanks guys, big help. i replaced the OEM alternator unfortunately with an auto zone one, gonna try to rebuild the original one, i'll get that stuff checked out like you're saying.
 
Well depending on belt tension/condition I've had em slip when the engine revved up, but usually catch quickly, showing a jump in the batt guage. Usually a quick tighten even with a crappy belt will work until it throws it. Also check to make sure another component isn't causing the belt to sieze.
 
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