Alternator probs?

[Ivan141]

Guys,

On my way home today (about a 1,5 hour drive through the 35 degree heatwave we are having at the moment) I noticed that my battery warning light has come on, and flashed on&off a bit during accelerating etc.

Now from what I know that is usually the mark of a fried alternator(dynamo for the dutch guys). Any quick ideas/tips from guys with experience would be greatly appreciated.
I checked the battery connections, they where ok, the drivebelt was also correctly tightened and intact. No weird noises, no weird smells...just a warning light gone disco on my dash. I need this fixed ASAP so all advice is welcome.

[Ivan141]

Hmm...just checked charge voltage with my multimeter...10volts...
Looks like I'll have to find myself a new alternator in one day

[El_Camino]

I had problem with my one Ivan and I must say I changed everithing on it until came to the problem.

First - you should give it a try with new brushes. They are pretty cheap - like less than 1€ and after 23 years of driving most probably gone.

Second - it is pretty easy do open the alternator. Usually inside you will see the electonics - it as a simple plate with some diods (hope not wrong here). They can be tested one by one with multimeter.

The problem on my one was exactly there. One of them was loose. Unfortunalelly they cannot be fixed, cause they are pressed in the metal. A new plate was 15€ in Bulgaria - I dont believe it should be very expencive in Holland, if you find it .

Some other japanese have the same modul, so you better go to look with it in the hand, than by the model of the car.

It is also an option to put exterlnal electronics (sorry, dont know the exact name) but you have to be carefull, because japanese cars are controling the charging with the + instead the -, which is the case with the cheap european alternatives.

[Ivan141]

I'll have a look when it's out.. shouldnt be too hard to change some diodes over, although I dont know what you mean when you say they're stamped to the metal, cant be SMD electronics for those high power applications, but I'll see soon enough.

I'll see if I can quickly find a replacement alternator because I really need my car next week. Mux had a spare so we'll see if we can work something out.

I wonder what killed the alternator...could it be the temperatures under the hood?

[El_Camino]

It is pretty easy to change... btw. now I remember how I was ermergency driving my AE86, when the alternator was gone!
We just put + from the batery to it, to charge the whole time, then put a load between, so it dont overcharges it - a simple 12V bulb.

These diods ... sorry, that I dont know the right name, but I believe thay cannot be changed, because they are part of this plate - welded or coated with something to it and at the and one whole piece.

My one died in the late summer of 2005. Maybe the heat, but I would say after 22 years, it has done its job already.

[EE80Liftback]

Hey Ivan, check my project page on the dutch corolla club web site for my experiences with repairing my alternator...

To summarize: Repairing costs losts of money, new or refurbished by dealer costs slight LESS money but still very much and getting one from the scrapyard is cheap as hell.

edit: link to my project page: http://www.corollaforum.nl/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14069

[EE80Liftback]

One more comment: You can probably use an alternator of any period toyota. It would be nice to go for one of a diesel engine since those are usually slightly heavier.

There is however one problem: The diesel engines have V-belt and you probably have a "multiribriem" I asked the guy at my local garage to swap the "poulies" (belt wheels?) but you end up with the thicker "multiribriem poulie" grinding off some aluminium of the alternator... After 10 mins of running the engine this is fine however and you can be pleased with yet another upgrade of your old car :-)

[NoHachi]

Upgrade? Heavier alternator would mean more parasitic drag and less hp..If the std alternator is fine, then i would stick with that..

Second...running a car consumes almost no energy...running the lights, stereo etc does..So it is no problem at all to drive around the whole day and then charge the battery during the evening at home..Not exacty a handy way of doing things, but an alternative if you have no other quick options..
I drove around like this for a week..

[Mux213]

hey Ivan,

Sorry didn't have time to talk on the phone today, I should have a working altenator in the shed somewhere, maybe it does the trick

In the mean while, keep that battery hooked up to a charger over night.

[EE80Liftback]

NoHachi Wrote:Upgrade? Heavier alternator would mean more parasitic drag and less hp..If the std alternator is fine, then i would stick with that..

Second...running a car consumes almost no energy...running the lights, stereo etc does..So it is no problem at all to drive around the whole day and then charge the battery during the evening at home..Not exacty a handy way of doing things, but an alternative if you have no other quick options..
I drove around like this for a week..

True of course, upgrade only if you want to have a large audio installation which neither Ivan nor I have...