My 4runner has died a few times lately so I had both alternator and battery tested, in the car, and the national shop said both were bad. I had doubts, so I removed both battery and alternator and took them in to be bench tested and they tested OK...don't you love random electrical problems) but problem still kept happening. I recently replaced the battery but today it died again and they tell me voltage regulator is bad (10v output) after testing alt. so battery purchase was for nothing. My question is this..is there a voltage regulator upgrade that fits the old alternator to up my output without switching the alt. to the GM alternator mentioned on the forum? This would prevent me having to shim the mount and switch the plug. I do plan on doing the big 3 upgrade (fantastic information on this forum about that by the way, You guys are great!) after the alternator situation is fixed. I know you guys have some good info on this and so I'm looking for advice. And yes I have checked out the forum but did not find anything about using the stock alternator but switching the voltage regulator for the increased output. I do have a new alternator (stock) on hand for the modification since I have used up all my AAA tows for the year on this %$@# problem and can't afford to be stranded again here in Alaska.
Voltage regulator upgrade
- Thread starter popsmoto
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By "switching the voltage regulator for increased output" do you just mean fixing the low output of your stock alternator? You can get a replacement voltage regulator, which may fix your issue, but it won't be an upgrade in the same way that the GM alt swap is (that upgrade increases the current available, ie. amps, not volts.)
If you have a new stock alt handy, you might as well swap that one in. The voltage regulator is built in--if a bad regulator is your issue, that should set you right.
It's The internal voltage regulator in the alternator that is bad. I thought I could just swap out the VR for one that will allow more current output. Probably will do that mod to the new alternator in case there is something else is wrong with the old one. Is there an aftermarket voltage regulator that fits into the alternator that will work?
Never heard of the 200-amp Eagle Auto Electric it. Any idea if the cost is about the same? Just ordered the CS-144 and 4 pin plug from O'Reilly's should be here Saturday. I will be happy to have this problem fixed. Waited 2 HOURS for a tow last time the beast died. In winter, in Alaska, that sucked. Thank again to all the "all knowing Guru's" on this forum.
