charging issue

[k_schutte]

Hello again guys!

On my '87 4runner... Every so often, the alternator stops charging. The "charge" light and the "brake" light both come on at the same time. There is never a pattern, it seems to be just completely random. It will usually start working again on it's own. I checked the wiring and even ran new wires along side the old ones, both ground and charging wires.

Any ideas? The "brake" light ALWAYS comes on at at the same time as the "charge" light. sometimes when I am driving down the interstate at a steady speed, sometimes when I am off-roading, sometimes it is just parked and idling, sometimes when I shift, there is NO pattern to it what so ever.

The alternator is brand new, so are the cables as I stated above.

 

[fourwd1]

Hello again guys!

On my '87 4runner... Every so often, the alternator stops charging. The "charge" light and the "brake" light both come on at the same time. There is never a pattern, it seems to be just completely random. It will usually start working again on it's own. I checked the wiring and even ran new wires along side the old ones, both ground and charging wires.

Any ideas? The "brake" light ALWAYS comes on at at the same time as the "charge" light. sometimes when I am driving down the interstate at a steady speed, sometimes when I am off-roading, sometimes it is just parked and idling, sometimes when I shift, there is NO pattern to it what so ever.

The alternator is brand new, so are the cables as I stated above.

Both lights on together is Toyota's way of telling you your alt is going bad, usually it's the brushes.

 

[k_schutte]

Both lights on together is Toyota's way of telling you your alt is going bad, usually it's the brushes.

I have a feeling you did not read the entire post. :bash:

 

[KidVermicious]

I have a feeling you did not read the entire post. :bash:

Wow, really dude?

Instead of bashing the guy trying to help you, why don't you try considering what else might make your truck think the alternator is bad.

 

[k_schutte]

Wow, really dude?

Instead of bashing the guy trying to help you, why don't you try considering what else might make your truck think the alternator is bad.

Jackass... that was in NO WAY a bash. I said it has a new alternator, and all new cables and he responded "bad alternator". Obviously not the issue as I have already replaced the alternator and had it tested just to make sure it was good even though it is brand new.

STFU and GTFO as you are obviously in no position to help me.

 

[m3elmo]

if it's a new refurb alternator, it could still have bad brushes. I would check the ground. I've changed an alternator before and the ground was horrible. So I had to get a 4ga wire from the back of the alternator to a good ground on the block/frame and it worked. Normally the bracket is the ground, but sometimes not good enough if bad, rusted etc.

 

[fourwd1]

"New" alternators are right bad out of the box all the time.

 

[k_schutte]

Wow... I don't think this site is going to be very helpful at all.

I already stated I changed the grounds, I already stated I had the new alternator tested to make sure it is indeed good. The lights only come on for a few seconds at a time usually, as if there is a lose wire somewhere or something. I was thinking maybe there was a 4Runner specific issue, which is why I asked on here, just to see. It doesn't appear as though it is so.

I am new to this website, I am not new to cars. I have done everything that you would normally do to a vehicle with this issue. I added bigger ground wires, a bigger charging wire, I had the alt. tested (more than once), I cleaned the plug-in connector on the alt and looked for any lose/chewed up wires...