Alternator Replacement

[grimmcruiser]

Wife just called with a dead LC. Battery is about 2 years old and the truck has 190k on it, so I am assuming the alternator may be the culprit. How much trouble is it to replace the alternator on these? I have owned this truck for over 90k miles and have never had to work on that area of the engine. Any thoughts? Really need to decide quickly to do myself or take to shop.

 

[grimmcruiser]

Let me back up just a little. Where is the alternator? I can see power steering pump, AC compressor etc. Is this thing in the middle? I will take an in-expert answer as I have to try to get it in the shop or get to wrenching pretty quick.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Let me back up just a little. Where is the alternator? I can see power steering pump, AC compressor etc. Is this thing in the middle? I will take an in-expert answer as I have to try to get it in the shop or get to wrenching pretty quick.

Well I suppose I'm not an expert and I've never changed an alternator on any of my Toyotas, but I have changed an alternator before and it wasn't rocket science. Generally AutoZone can give you some tips if needed.

OK...I just looked under my hood for my 4th Gen 4Runner and I think the alternator is down pretty low. If its we're I think it is I would go to a shop, but again I'm not an expert! Good luck, curios what you find out cause later I'm upgrading my alternator to a higher output one.

Sry I'm not better help.

 

[grimmcruiser]

So far, Toyota can not tell me by VIN or production date whether I have an 80 or 100 amp alternator. I still can't figure out where it is, BUT the voltage across the battery is 14 while running, which would drive me back towards the battery.

 

[The Jade Bean]

So far, Toyota can not tell me by VIN or production date whether I have an 80 or 100 amp alternator. I still can't figure out where it is, BUT the voltage across the battery is 14 while running, which would drive me back towards the battery.

Don't know if this will help, but I was at Toyota dealership the other day and got some good info. Go to techinfo.toyota.com and you can pay like $15 and have 48hrs access to all factory shop manuals and print it all off if you wanted (to buy all those manuals separate is around $400).
I haven't done this yet, but I intend to really soon...should give you better info there. Good luck!

 

[ponytl]

I just posted a step by step on here somewhere if you do a search

 

[Elbert]

So far, Toyota can not tell me by VIN or production date whether I have an 80 or 100 amp alternator. I still can't figure out where it is, BUT the voltage across the battery is 14 while running, which would drive me back towards the battery.

If you are getting 14 volts at the battery with the engine running then most likely its not an ALT issue. I dont' have that year model truck, but can't you just follow the belts to see where the ALT is located on the engine?

I would get your batter load tested, as the battery is probally the issue. Alt are easy to change for the most part...first order of business is to disconnect the pos battery cable at the battery. The only "hard" part abotu swapping an ALT is gaining access to it, if it sits low on teh eingine and then access to it becomes a challenge.