Hi everyone!
Would appreciate some help with a possible alternator problem on my 1990 4ZE1 troop. Here are symptoms - first symptom showed up several weeks ago and continued intermittently. It consisted of several dash lights (check engine, e-brake, fuel, etc....) coming on, usually when RPM's were very low. Sometimes they stayed on till engine was shut off, other times they would quickly go out again. After a couple weeks of this, my fan (for AC) began to operate intermittently....ie when the switch was in the on position it would sometimes blow, and other times not blow, sometimes kicking in and out several times a minute. A couple days after the fan problem showed up I went out to start the engine. It started and ran for 2-3 seconds and then shut off. It will do this repeatedly, as many times as I try to start it.

So, after doing some archive searches I am thinking this is most likely the alternator....do others agree? I saw a post that said I could disconnect the main engine relay and see if the motor would continue to run...is this an appropriate method to determine if the alternator is bad? If so can someone clue me in on where the main engine relay is?? Thanks for any help/advice you can give!! It is very much appreciated! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />