Toy Alternator/Battery........HELP!!!!!!!!!

yotabeater · Nov 9, 2006

God damn yota's decide to take a **** on me when i have no money whatsoever to fix it. i'm so pissed right now, it will be a miracle if i can type out this thread.

started up my 94 toy today and noticed the battery meter was reading low (just above the half point), and the belt started squeeling bad. i revved it up a little, but it did nothing. i have an alternator whine in my stereo, and it wasn't there. so i drove around a bit, and out of nowhere it kicks in, and i can smell something burning. it did this about 4 f***ing times while driving around. i had the schucks tards check the alternator with their little tester, and they tried to tell me it was fine. i drove around a bit more and came back and had them test it again, what do you know? no charge coming from the alternator. the battery is a 6 month old orbital gel cell, so i don't think that's the problem.

when alternators go out, don't they go out all the way? or maybe i have a loose connection somewhere? anybody in the spokane area that can give me a hand? i have no f***ing tools and nowhere to work on my rig, and i need this solved asap, as this is my only car between me and my girlfriend right now. PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

84Toyota4x4 · Nov 9, 2006

when alternators go out, don't they go out all the way?

Not really. In my experience, Ive seen alternators that put out fine amperage and voltage with no loads on, but fail when you turn on lights, fan, wipers, etc. Ive also seen it the other way around, low voltage/amperage with no loads, but good with loads. The internally regulated alternators are quite interesting characters sometimes.

Anyway, the fact the belt was sqealing may mean the belt is loose and slipping, which in turn wouldnt produce correct power, especially with a load on since that would make it harder to turn the alt, thus making the belt slip more. It could also explain the burning smell, since the rubber would be getting hot.

However, noise through the stereo is usally a bad ground (at least when installing stereos), but it could also be a bad voltage regulator messing with things as well. Ive seen that happen before too, peoples voices start going high pictched as you accelerate, then lower as you slow down, lol.

I would pop the hood and start checking all your connections ESPECIALLY anytime you smell burning. Check the battery itself to see if its hot after its been running (overchargning - cant really listen for boiling with a gel cell), check the positive side of the battery and where it connects at the starter (it could short out here), check the negative side of the battery and follow it to where it grounds, check that as well. Check the charge wire off the alternator, and check where it goes into the fuse block under the hood, etc.

While you're under there you might as well check the belt tension too, make sure its not too loose.

~T.J.

yotabeater · Nov 9, 2006

i checked the belt tension a little and it seemed ok. wasn't overly loose or tight. i haven't even worked on it that much, so i don't even know where the tensioner is to tighten it. anybody got a diagram or pic?

bobbed_84_toy · Nov 9, 2006

There's brushes inside the alternator that go out. They wear down and then slowly lose contact thus charging less. Most people just never notice this untill the battery is actually dead. You should be able to just order up a set of brushes and change them out yourself to save a bunch of money and it is not too difficult to do. You do have to do a small amount of sodering though

bobbed_84_toy · Nov 9, 2006

yotabeater said:
i checked the belt tension a little and it seemed ok. wasn't overly loose or tight. i haven't even worked on it that much, so i don't even know where the tensioner is to tighten it. anybody got a diagram or pic?

There's two bolts that hold the alternator on. You losen them up a little bit and then pry the alternator over and tighten them down (there's a slot that one of the bolts go through so it will slide over. You want about a 1/2 inch or so of play in the belt

skrause · Nov 9, 2006

Does it spin smoothly? Sounds to me like you have a bad bearing in it and it's seizing up. That would also explain the burning smell, your belt getting cooked off.

yotabeater · Nov 10, 2006

it was easier to take it to a shop. alternator was toast one way or the other. got a new one and new belts. seems to be cool now. thanks to all who replied with helpful info. you guys are a lot more forgiving than the faggots on the pirate board.