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 Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
#807479
04/23/07 03:47 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 232
OP
Wheeler
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Hey everyone, my trucks been having a problem the last couple days. Sometimes when I'm driving, my charge light will come on, and the voltmeter would drop in it's reading. The first time it happened, I thought I threw a belt, so I turned the truck off and scoped out the engine bay. Well, nothing looked out of place, so I started the truck up, and everything was fine, no charge light, and a correct reading at the voltmeter. But after driving for about 20 mins, it came on again. I thought it might be a lose connection on the alternator, but everything is tight. So I was just wondering if it's possible for the alternator to be intermittent, or is an alternator either dead or working, nothing in between?
Thanks for any help.
-Nick
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: Nix_Toy]
#807480
04/23/07 05:01 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 143
Wheeler
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Had the same problem ... Regulator on the alt had gone bad... swapped out for a new one and no troubles
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: salvo]
#807481
04/23/07 08:43 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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I had that happen as well but it was a broken post. I could spin it with a wrench and it would work for a few miles then cut loose again...
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: Nix_Toy]
#807482
04/24/07 01:49 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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Your alternator is going out.
1986 Toyota 4Runner.
Solid Axle Swap, 5'' Lift, 37'' MTR`s, Duel Cases, Detroit Locker Rear, ARB High Pinion Front, 4.88 Gears, Cross Over Steering, Trail Gear Sliders, Addicted Off Road Front Bumper.
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: Nix_Toy]
#807483
04/24/07 03:27 AM
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 26
Getting the Wheeling Fever
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mine was intermediate. i tested with my VOM and it wasn't working so i went to auto zone to get a new alternator. they offered to test it so i was like sure why not. they said it worked fine so i didn't get a new one and whet home thinking i had a electrical short in the wiring loom. a few hours later i figured out the thing had a bad diode so it worked intermiadaly dam that thing! frustrating when you second guess yourself when you are right in the first place. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
91 4runner 22re 5spd
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: Nix_Toy]
#807484
04/24/07 03:32 AM
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 15,887
Toyota & Classifieds Moderator
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Sounds like the IC is going out in the thing; that's the diode assembly. I went through about 4 brush changes on my alternator before my IC finally bit the dust. That thing was a 192K alternator. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />
http://www.walkablecommunities.org/Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for dinner. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote. **ubi apis- ibi salus**
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: kewlynx]
#807485
04/24/07 05:18 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 408
Mudrunner
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Fuseable link on the positive side of the battery post. Went wheeling this weekend in Juno Texas. Del Rio was 70 miles away. Well, I thought I needed another alternator. I got back to camp. wheeled the whole day thinking my problem was fixed. Night fall came and gearing up for a night run and I had dim lights again.
Needles to say I passed on the night run. Looked all over trying to figure out what was it. I moved the fuseable link around and sure enough my lights turned off and the engine died. I bypassed the link for a quick fix and sure enough I have bright lights now.
You may want to look into that.
Mike
Last edited by MnMsToY; 04/24/07 05:19 PM.
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: Nix_Toy]
#807486
04/25/07 12:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 215
Wheeler
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Hey everyone, my trucks been having a problem the last couple days. Sometimes when I'm driving, my charge light will come on, and the voltmeter would drop in it's reading. The first time it happened, I thought I threw a belt, so I turned the truck off and scoped out the engine bay. Well, nothing looked out of place, so I started the truck up, and everything was fine, no charge light, and a correct reading at the voltmeter. But after driving for about 20 mins, it came on again. I thought it might be a lose connection on the alternator, but everything is tight. So I was just wondering if it's possible for the alternator to be intermittent, or is an alternator either dead or working, nothing in between?
Thanks for any help.
-Nick
mine did the exact same thing and i went to toyota and spent like $20 for a brush kit, it fixed the problem, it wouldnt do it all the time and the charge light was usually on when it was cold unless i revved the engine up. once it warmed up and i kept the truck running would stay off but as soon as i shut it off for more than 5 min it would take like 20 min of driving to kick back off. id try the brushes first, the toyota brushes are better than the ones from napa. auto zone or advanced auto parts.
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: subliminaltrips]
#807487
04/26/07 08:27 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 121
Wheeler
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Mine wasn't really intermittent, it just sort of died. The problem though was that one of the screws that holds the brush assembly in actually stripped out, and it happened to be the screw that made the brush pack contact the wire. If it was loose, or just rattleing around in there I suppose it could be intermittent though. Like they said though, I'd at least pull it apart and check the brushes, cheapest option to start with.
86 4runner, pro comp AAL, Kayline Soft top, 31's but all stock
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Re: Is it possible to have an intermittent alternator?
[Re: suba]
#807488
04/26/07 03:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 215
Wheeler
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i think that with most things the step after intermittant would be complete failure. i forget if the screws came in the kit but in your case the screw hole is prob stripped so your alt is screwed, no pun intended. sounds like a core....
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