Stuck on the side of the road: Battery/Alrernator - What’s the real issue?

[Flash Runner]

To preface, I have a 07 V8 Limited. I get in the truck to go pick a friend up, it’s a short enough drive. I notice that my battery light has come on in gauge cluster. It was midnight, so I figured I could hold off until tomorrow to look at it. I was wrong..... I’m sitting in the drive thru on the way back waiting to get food and I notice that my window went up slower than normal. The radio cut out, and then all my dash lights lit up, and slowly the lights in the Hvac screen start dissappearing. So I’m stuck in the drive thru trying to make it out, and the truck finally dies.

I wait to get it jumped, guy brought a little jump box, and it dies before I can pull out once I got it started. Jump it again and tried to leave quick to get my revs up. The truck is “chugging” as it doesn’t recognize the pedal being pushed, then for a second it does, and doesn’t again. All the lights inside are going crazy. So I pull off again, and I’m currently waiting on a tow truck.

I just replaced the battery in June, with one of those Costco ones. The last electrical work done on the truck was a new HU installed about a month ago.

So I’m assuming this is the alternator, but I’ve never been in a vehicle that would “chug” like I said due to a dead battery. I’ll be taking it to the shop ASAP, and report back what they say, but does anyone have any preliminary thoughts or ideas?

 

[truckhigh]

its your alternator if that light goes on, and most likely ate up that battery too.

sorry it happened, and you should be glad you weren't driving.

 

[truckhigh]

ill explain more the chug was the electronic fuel system dying from the last bit of juice from the battery. Since the alternator isn't running all the electronics in the car. the alternator just likes to take a dump whenever it wants because the brushes stick or get worn. sometimes taking a hammer to it brings it back to life in an emergency. but you should replace it and costco battery is free replacement.

 

[4Runner fun]

Alternator

Alternator, and wondering if your charging system was tested with the new battery. thinking it could have helped kill the battery.
when u jumped it and it died, it means your battery is drained and no Alternator to keep the truck running..

Oh ya.... you get a battery light at night with all the lights drawing power, And you choose to hit the drive thru?:doh:

 

[Flash Runner]

ill explain more the chug was the electronic fuel system dying from the last bit of juice from the battery. Since the alternator isn't running all the electronics in the car. the alternator just likes to take a dump whenever it wants because the brushes stick or get worn. sometimes taking a hammer to it brings it back to life in an emergency. but you should replace it and costco battery is free replacement.

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, I’m hoping that it is the alternator truly, bc no matter what money is going into the truck, I’d rather it be a simple and known issue

Oh ya.... you get a battery light at night with all the lights drawing power, And you choose to hit the drive thru?:doh:

What can I say, a hungry mind is not a logical one after midnight HA!

 

[radlynx]

Thanks for confirming my suspicions, I’m hoping that it is the alternator truly, bc no matter what money is going into the truck, I’d rather it be a simple and known issue



What can I say, a hungry mind is not a logical one after midnight HA!

you could have used just the flasher to save your battery. it happened to my wife one time but was during the day, she called me and told her to drive it home and made it.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

 

[RonJR]

I agree it sounds like the alternator died, but I disagree that it likely took the battery with it. No particular reason that the battery shouldn't be fine after a good recharge. Car batteries don't like repetitive deep cycling, but one time doesn't really damage anything.

Fix the alternator, make sure all terminals are clean, put the battery on a charger overnight, and continue on with life.

 

[Flash Runner]

you could have used just the flasher to save your battery. it happened to my wife one time but was during the day, she called me and told her to drive it home and made it.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

What do you mean by “used just the flasher to save your battery”?
Also if the battery is good, awesome! If not it should be warrantied for a new one still.

the shop says $625, confirmed a bad alternator and to replace with parts and labor. Looks like I’m gonna be trying this repair on my own.... the damn 2UZ just makes it more complicated. Doing work on my truck is the only time I wish I had the V6 bc everything seems easier to access and there’s so much more room in the bay.