Alternator upgrade

piecesparts

piecesparts

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What are others using as an upgrade to their TR4s? I have a 1997 4 Runner and am considering an upgrade to the alternator. I want to know what each of you have put into yours and what issues you may have experieinced in the change over.
 
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Do a search for it because I remember seeing a thread about this same thing and it involved an alternator from a different vehicle that had something like 50-70 more amps and was pretty much a bolt in job.
 
CS144 is correct

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/135318-docs-cs144-alternator-upgrade.html

should be an easy swap, you can also order and adapter for $12 and it makes the whole thing plug and play, make sure you get the alt with the grooved pulley instead of the other one!

the draw backs of this, or so i've heard is that they might be a bit more prone to failure during water crossings, so there has been various discussions on other alternatives and the validity of that statement in general.

i've been considering doing this upgrade and getting really close to the point where i am forced to do this because of all of the stuff I'm powering...

i'd really like to go with cs144, but have been awol from here for a few years and would like to hear from people who are using these, today, what your impressions are and if you've had any failures....i'd much rather go with the $150 cs144 than paying $500 or more for one of the custom jobs...
 
theizzardking said:
CS144 is correct

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/135318-docs-cs144-alternator-upgrade.html

should be an easy swap, you can also order and adapter for $12 and it makes the whole thing plug and play, make sure you get the alt with the grooved pulley instead of the other one!

the draw backs of this, or so i've heard is that they might be a bit more prone to failure during water crossings, so there has been various discussions on other alternatives and the validity of that statement in general.

i've been considering doing this upgrade and getting really close to the point where i am forced to do this because of all of the stuff I'm powering...

i'd really like to go with cs144, but have been awol from here for a few years and would like to hear from people who are using these, today, what your impressions are and if you've had any failures....i'd much rather go with the $150 cs144 than paying $500 or more for one of the custom jobs...
Click to expand...

Thats the one I have, works great.

Here is the adapter: Part # W1232 Alternator Wiring Harness Adapter. converts CS130 or CS144 4 pin Plug to Toyotal Oval Style Alternator Plug

Ripcord's Build- Alternator install
 
4-Ripcord said:
Thats the one I have, works great.

Here is the adapter: Part # W1232 Alternator Wiring Harness Adapter. converts CS130 or CS144 4 pin Plug to Toyotal Oval Style Alternator Plug

Ripcord's Build- Alternator install
Click to expand...

yeah, i saw you got a new rig, did you have the cs144 in the old one as well?

i'm wondering about longevity here, everyone seems to like the output, I'm just wondering if the reliability over the longer term is there or if the early fears about these alts and water have been sorted out or not. ???
 
theizzardking said:
yeah, i saw you got a new rig, did you have the cs144 in the old one as well?

i'm wondering about longevity here, everyone seems to like the output, I'm just wondering if the reliability over the longer term is there or if the early fears about these alts and water have been sorted out or not. ???
Click to expand...

I did not have it last time. Can't comment on the reliability, I actually didn't see anyone saying anything about its reliability.
 
i ordered a 250 amp cs144 from eagle auto electric. Seen some reviews online its a shop in cali that does rebuilds. it was 50 more then the stock caddy alternator shipped to my door with a toyota plug already wired and a toyota 4rib pulley instead of the 6 rib or whatever is on the caddy alt. the dude was really friendly over email and pretty helpful. i just got it in the mail about a week ago and havent replaced my stocker so we will see how it goes, need the big 3 first.
 
Slightly new to the Toyota world. Clarify big 3 for electrical, please.

Will the alternator upgrade work without it?
 
Slightly new to the Toyota world. Clarify big 3 for electrical, please.

Will the alternator upgrade work without it?
 
piecesparts said:
Slightly new to the Toyota world. Clarify big 3 for electrical, please.

Will the alternator upgrade work without it?
Click to expand...

the big 3 upgrade isn't one that's specific to toyotas. It's replacing the battery ground to chassis wire, the chassis to engine block ground wire, and the alternator to battery positive wire with beefier gauge wires (usually 4 awg or bigger).

The alternator will work without it, but you probably won't see the full output of the alternator.
 
I know this is an old thread however my alt just crapped out and Im wanting to do the cs144 upgrade... Does anyone have any experience with this alt WITHOUT doing the big 3 upgrade? Is this a significant safety risk?

I am running a 650 watt audio amp 42" and 32" led bars and 6 small led cubes.. sometimes I use everything at once...
I have a battery voltage meter installed in my dash as well so I could potentially see any irregular voltage readings...

Thanks in advance
 
Yoda-runner said:
I know this is an old thread however my alt just crapped out and Im wanting to do the cs144 upgrade... Does anyone have any experience with this alt WITHOUT doing the big 3 upgrade? Is this a significant safety risk?

I am running a 650 watt audio amp 42" and 32" led bars and 6 small led cubes.. sometimes I use everything at once...
I have a battery voltage meter installed in my dash as well so I could potentially see any irregular voltage readings...

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Well, think of it this way:

The stock ALT fuse is 100 amps.
The stock alternator puts out a max of 80 amps.
The CS144 puts out up to 140 amps.

What's going to happen to that fuse? It's simple math. Gotta upgrade your wiring.
 
weekendclimber said:
I've had a high output custom alternator that I got off ebay for more than 4 years now with no issues. Keep the old one as a spare. Caveat: I've done the big 3 upgrade.

Basically this:

HIGH OUTPUT 160AMP ALTERNATOR FOR TOYOTA 4RUNNER TUNDRA TACOMA 3.4L 101211-9590 | eBay
Click to expand...



That really is a good price if it lasts. You’ll pay around that amount for the 144 GM Alt unless it comes from a junk yard and it still needs adapted to the Toyota wiring. The factory alt is only capable of pushing just a hair over 40a at 600rpm. Headlights, brake lights and fan speed on speed 3 exceeds that without adding anything extra.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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