Possible Alternator Trouble?

Lunch2000 · 03-10-2007, 02:41 AM

So I finally got my big red headache through NJ inspection (Woohoo! only took me 3 tries!).

Now I have a new issue,

the other night while stuck in stop and go traffic for about an hour, the hand brake light, and the battery warning light came on while the car was at idle (note: no check engine light).

The headlights and dash lights also became rather dim. When I bumped the car up to 1000 RPMs , the hand brake and battery light went off and the lights came up, this went for about 40 minutes. Even after driving on the highway for 15 minutes after the traffic whenever I was at a light or the car dropped to idle after a few seconds the e-brake light and battery light came on. When I went out this morning to start the car the battery was dead, and the battery is less than a month old. I'm thinking the alternator bearings are on their way out. Alternator can't produce voltage at idle, battery drains does not get recharged. What does everyone else think?

Lunch

mrnickleye · 03-10-2007, 02:56 AM

Yes....but its not the bearings in the alt. its either the brushes, or the regulator. Get a reman unit from a GOOD parts store.

And save yourself 2x the work...NOT from the autozone !!!

Kragens Autoparts:

Autolite Import 14611 Remanufactured; With Manual Transmission
Limited Lifetime Warranty*
Immediate availability
List$199.48 Wholesale$92.76

All Autolite Pro-Tech?™ Alternators are 100% tested to meet or exceed Original Equipment specifications for voltage and amperage.

Pulleys and Fans - 100% Remanufactured - Inspected for alignment and groove clearance, painted or plated, and torqued for lasting performance
Voltage Regulators - 100% New or tested for maximum operating voltage
Insulators - 100% Original Equipment Quality - High temp for long lasting reliability
Rotors and Stators - 100% Remanufactured - Electronically tested for performance and maximum output
Brushes - 100% New brushes and springs to ensure long life
Bearings - 100% New or replaced with quality remanufactured bearings, packed with high temperature grease
Diodes and Rectifiers - 100% New or remanufactured

Limited Lifetime*

IHateHacks · 03-10-2007, 03:06 AM

I second the motion.

There is a way to test your charging system by hooking an ammeter up to terminal B of the alternator and blah blah blah, but you probably don't know where terminal B is and I'm too lazy to go take a picture and show you. Plus you probably don't have a multimeter to test it with anyways.

I'm going to go a step further and say don't get an alt. from ANY aftermarket part store unless you want to replace it again in a year or 2. Maybe even 6 months. Just do yourself (and your supra) a favor and buy one from the dealer. Yea, yea I know that they are an arm and a leg, but you get what you pay for.

mrnickleye · 03-10-2007, 03:09 AM

And sometimes there is a GOOD electrical shop in town that will overhaul it for less than a reman unit.

Ask around at some repair shops for who's good in town.

Fortunately, our alts come off real easy.

Lunch2000 · 03-10-2007, 03:35 AM

No auto-zone here so no worries there, besides I don't think they would carry it anyways. Finding parts around here for the car is damn near impossible. I ordered reman bosh as this car is my only daily driver so I need to be somewhat reliable. I know some people don't like em' but I have not had a problem with em' so far.

BTW I do own a multi-meter , I just happen to have backed over it recently

Careful how you bandy stereo types there young un' some of us know what a volt/amp is....

Thanks supra ninjas!

IHateHacks · 03-11-2007, 03:22 AM

LOL @ running it over. Sorry bout the assumption, didn't mean it that way

.

03-10-2007, 02:41 AM	#1
Lunch2000 Stock Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Union City, NJ Posts: 19	Possible Alternator Trouble? So I finally got my big red headache through NJ inspection (Woohoo! only took me 3 tries!). Now I have a new issue, the other night while stuck in stop and go traffic for about an hour, the hand brake light, and the battery warning light came on while the car was at idle (note: no check engine light). The headlights and dash lights also became rather dim. When I bumped the car up to 1000 RPMs , the hand brake and battery light went off and the lights came up, this went for about 40 minutes. Even after driving on the highway for 15 minutes after the traffic whenever I was at a light or the car dropped to idle after a few seconds the e-brake light and battery light came on. When I went out this morning to start the car the battery was dead, and the battery is less than a month old. I'm thinking the alternator bearings are on their way out. Alternator can't produce voltage at idle, battery drains does not get recharged. What does everyone else think? Lunch __________________ '89 Supra Turbo 5-speed, 3" stainless exaust

03-10-2007, 02:56 AM	#2
mrnickleye 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, Calif. Posts: 1,705	Yes....but its not the bearings in the alt. its either the brushes, or the regulator. Get a reman unit from a GOOD parts store. And save yourself 2x the work...NOT from the autozone !!! Kragens Autoparts: Autolite Import 14611 Remanufactured; With Manual Transmission Limited Lifetime Warranty* Immediate availability List$199.48 Wholesale$92.76 All Autolite Pro-Tech?™ Alternators are 100% tested to meet or exceed Original Equipment specifications for voltage and amperage. Pulleys and Fans - 100% Remanufactured - Inspected for alignment and groove clearance, painted or plated, and torqued for lasting performance Voltage Regulators - 100% New or tested for maximum operating voltage Insulators - 100% Original Equipment Quality - High temp for long lasting reliability Rotors and Stators - 100% Remanufactured - Electronically tested for performance and maximum output Brushes - 100% New brushes and springs to ensure long life Bearings - 100% New or replaced with quality remanufactured bearings, packed with high temperature grease Diodes and Rectifiers - 100% New or remanufactured Limited Lifetime* __________________ Had a Red 1989 N/A. Automatic. Sports Pkg. w/wing. TEMS, and some nice MODS. Sold to a friend 10/08/08.

03-10-2007, 03:09 AM	#4
mrnickleye 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, Calif. Posts: 1,705	And sometimes there is a GOOD electrical shop in town that will overhaul it for less than a reman unit. Ask around at some repair shops for who's good in town. Fortunately, our alts come off real easy. __________________ Had a Red 1989 N/A. Automatic. Sports Pkg. w/wing. TEMS, and some nice MODS. Sold to a friend 10/08/08.

03-10-2007, 03:35 AM	#5
Lunch2000 Stock Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Union City, NJ Posts: 19	Welp.... No auto-zone here so no worries there, besides I don't think they would carry it anyways. Finding parts around here for the car is damn near impossible. I ordered reman bosh as this car is my only daily driver so I need to be somewhat reliable. I know some people don't like em' but I have not had a problem with em' so far. BTW I do own a multi-meter , I just happen to have backed over it recently Careful how you bandy stereo types there young un' some of us know what a volt/amp is.... Thanks supra ninjas! __________________ '89 Supra Turbo 5-speed, 3" stainless exaust

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03-10-2007, 03:06 AM	#3
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	I second the motion. There is a way to test your charging system by hooking an ammeter up to terminal B of the alternator and blah blah blah, but you probably don't know where terminal B is and I'm too lazy to go take a picture and show you. Plus you probably don't have a multimeter to test it with anyways. I'm going to go a step further and say don't get an alt. from ANY aftermarket part store unless you want to replace it again in a year or 2. Maybe even 6 months. Just do yourself (and your supra) a favor and buy one from the dealer. Yea, yea I know that they are an arm and a leg, but you get what you pay for.

03-11-2007, 03:22 AM	#6
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	LOL @ running it over. Sorry bout the assumption, didn't mean it that way .