crazy dash warning lights - help!

[dclee]

This is very weird. I was working on my sister's FJ80 today. Basic maintenance, oil change, air filter, top off fluids, blah blah. On her way home, it started acting strangely. Mechanically, everything worked fine. However, when slowing to a stop, once speed would get down under 10 mph, a bunch of warning lights would come on. A/T Oil Temp light, Brake light, and the square-shaped red warning light on top of the voltmeter. Always all three together. If she manually shifted to Park or another gear, they would intermittently go out, but usually stay on. Again, always all three together. Start driving again and they go out. WTF?

These are the only two thing I did during the course of the day that I could even remotely think might be a possible cause:

1.) On the 3F-E (at least in the 80) the oil filter is up on top of the block, vertical. Kinda nice being high up, but taking it off unavoidably dumps some oil downward. I got some on a wiring plug that looks like it goes to the power steering pump, or runs right by there.

2.) I found the previous owner had apparently lost or broken the fuse box cover, and had put a tupperware cover over it held in place by wire. Not the best splash or dust guard. I took it off and was blowing compressed air in there, and a lot of dust came out.

I'm going to have her disconnect the battery to reset the ECU, and then pull all the fuses in the box and WD-40 them, but not sure what else to do.

TIA for any help,

 

[clownmidget]

Derek, some of this sounds like the alternator dying. It may be the alternator or the wires to it, or ??? but if I remember correctly the brake light and one other dash light come on or blink or something when the voltage supply is wiggy. I could be entirely way off too as it is late for an old man like me and I've got two beers in me

 

[photogod]

If you want to spray something on the fuses please don't use WD-40, use some electronics cleaner. WD-40 will dry gooy and coat the fuses, eventually, with crud. I am also going through the same problem with the Alt. Time to replace it...

 

[CJF]

A/T Oil Temp light, Brake light, and the square-shaped red warning light on top of the voltmeter. Always all three together.

That's the 3FE low-voltage warning. (Who knows why they choose that combination of lights, but they did.)

Have the alt. tested; it's probably on its way out.

Curtis

 

[motorsargeT]

where is the idle at. it definately sounds like a loss of charging system, possible low idle

 

[gowyn]

same thing happened to be, alternator.

 

[landtank]

replace the brushes in the alternator. They can be gotten at any dealer and it's a simple job.

 

[cruiserdan]

The brush pack is part of the rectifier in a 3FE alternator. It's cheaper to buy a reman alternator than a new recitifier.

 

[landtank]

The brush pack is part of the rectifier in a 3FE alternator. It's cheaper to buy a reman alternator than a new recitifier.

what were they thinking?

 

[NorCalDoug]

alternator. I had the same thing happen when my starter was stuck on (with the 94 that I used to own).

 

[92LC_good2go]

In my '92, a few months back (early June??), the same thing happened to me ---- it was a part within the alternator that had broke/fried, but it was cheaper (so I was told) just to replace the entire alternator, which I did. I've had no troubles since.

 

[dclee]

All -

Thanks very much for all of the help and ideas. So consensus is pretty unanimous, we'll start checking in reman alternators. And I've learned something new about Toyota's warning lights for low voltage output!

Thanks again,