GX 460 Alternator type

[arod2051]

I've done a bit of searching and also looked at the exploded view of the two alternators for our GX's. There is no mention that the stock alternator (both of them) are 'Smart' alternators.

Does anyone have definitive info that our GX alternators are indeed a normal, standard, middle-class-joe alternator?

 

[THEOZMAN]

I believe most newer cars have smart alternators. you can test it out. turn your radio on for few minutes with the vehicle off. then start it. if you have a way to see voltage it should be in the 14s and if it drops to 12.7 - 13.5 then its a smart sensing Alternator (keep in mind the RPMs should be similar)

 

[arod2051]

I believe most newer cars have smart alternators. you can test it out. turn your radio on for few minutes with the vehicle off. then start it. if you have a way to see voltage it should be in the 14s and if it drops to 12.7 - 13.5 then its a smart sensing Alternator (keep in mind the RPMs should be similar)

Theozman,

Man, you are always full of great answers. But, this one requires me to do the test. LOL. I was hoping someone else already did it. HAHA.

I read the same test, where one starts the vehicle, then waits a few minutes to see if the voltage drops from ~14V to ~12V.

How many minutes should I wait? I read one thread where they guided a wait time of 5 minutes.
Should I keep the battery on a tender the night before, so I am not waiting really long?

 

[THEOZMAN]

haha I love this sparky stuff!

Theozman,

Man, you are always full of great answers. But, this one requires me to do the test. LOL. I was hoping someone else already did it. HAHA.

I read the same test, where one starts the vehicle, then waits a few minutes to see if the voltage drops from ~14V to ~12V.

How many minutes should I wait? I read one thread where they guided a wait time of 5 minutes.
Should I keep the battery on a tender the night before, so I am not waiting really long?

Hahaha I love all this sparky stuff.

I wouldnt put it on the tender since we are trying to deplete the battery so the alternator go into charge mode. usually not very long as just starting that behemoth of a V8 takes a decent amount of power. I would do radio on for 5-10 min. then start the car and see what happens. to be more sure, you can take it for a joy ride (since we can never get enough of our GXs) and watch the voltage drop. Or you can take my word for it that I have witnessed it drop which indicates that the alternator went into maintain voltage mode.

 

[arod2051]

... Or you can take my word for it that I have witnessed it drop which indicates that the alternator went into maintain voltage mode.

This.

Here's my decision tree:

Take Theozman's word for it => run an ignition sense wire to fuse box.

Don't take Theozman's word for it => buy 12V voltage meter cig socket => spend 2 hours on test => confirm Theozman witness-ification => run an ignition sense wire to fuse box.



But, because I am curious, I might run the test anyway....

 

[jmanscotch]

Watching my voltages on my scan gauge, I normally see it at 13.8V or so when I note it somewhere in the beginning of driving. On trips or longer drives, it typically sits around 13.2-13.6 volts.

I could pay more attention to it if someone's still curious, as the scangauge makes it pretty easy to see.

 

[arod2051]

Watching my voltages on my scan gauge, I normally see it at 13.8V or so when I note it somewhere in the beginning of driving. On trips or longer drives, it typically sits around 13.2-13.6 volts.

I could pay more attention to it if someone's still curious, as the scangauge makes it pretty easy to see.

Hi Jman,

I think you answered it. I think a .4 or .2V drop is too small to indicate it is being ‘smart‘. And if 13.2V is the limit of ‘smart’ in low-voltage mode, for my use-case, I would not run an extra wire for my BCDC.

But if you can run the observation, that would be great.

If it is, indeed, a smart alternator, Lexus logic eludes me on this one. The darn vehicle gets 16 - 18MPG, I am sure there are other fruits that are lower hanging.

 

[jmanscotch]

Yeah, let me be more attentive to it and try the process laid out above.

 

[jmanscotch]

Radio on for 10 minutes before I left work, started it and 13.8V at idle right off.

Drove home for 15 minutes and it creeped around 13.6-13.7V and when I got home it sat at 13.5V at idle.

 

[Acrad]

Side note...stock models without 3rd zone HVAC reportedly have smaller alternator

27060-38080 12V 130A 1
27060-38090 12V 150A, AIR CONDITIONER-DUAL(AUTO)

 

[arod2051]

Radio on for 10 minutes before I left work, started it and 13.8V at idle right off.

Drove home for 15 minutes and it creeped around 13.6-13.7V and when I got home it sat at 13.5V at idle.

awesome test, Jman!

Thanks! Seems like the observation you ran is pointing to a dumb alternator.

 

[arod2051]

Side note...stock models without 3rd zone HVAC reportedly have smaller alternator

27060-38080 12V 130A 1
27060-38090 12V 150A, AIR CONDITIONER-DUAL(AUTO)

View attachment 2574653View attachment 2574654

Oh yeah, good find. I want to rip out my 3rd row HVAC, too.

 

[Acrad]

Remember...there is another heater core back there as well...unlike the 470s which only had AC.