Brake + battery light on

[volna]

I have a '91 Toyota Camry. The brake + battery light in the dashboard came on recently (stays on when running - as against flicker when you start). I had a charging system test and battery test done at two independent autozone's and both places said that both the alternator (13.6V in test) and battery were good. Is there something else that needs to be tested. What does the brake & battery light coming on mean?

[toyomoho]

Might be two problems or some interconnect wiring issues.

Brake light. As in the light for low fluid level/parking brake on or the light for rear brake lights not working. If fluild level/parking brake, check the level and its switch plus parking brake switch. If rear brake lights, check out this system.

[Mike Gerber]

My guess is that you still have a bad alternator. The diodes in the alternator can go out causing both the charge light and the brake light to come on. I would get a third charging system test done somewhere else. I would be looking for something like 14.5 - 14.6 volts maximum output.

Mike

[volna]

I forgot to add that the lights go off when I accelerate the car. When I slow down/stop they come back on.

[toyomoho]

Guessing alternator/regulator should put out a higher voltage.

[Mike Gerber]

Originally Posted by volna

I forgot to add that the lights go off when I accelerate the car. When I slow down/stop they come back on.

That definitely sounds like a weak alternator.

Mike

[Doctor J]

Alternator brushes are worn or contaminated

[white90dx]

Originally Posted by Doctor J

Alternator brushes are worn or contaminated

Bingo.

[eigerfall]

I had the check brake, check battery, and check rear light come on and off for about a week. The techs at toyota checked the alternator and said the output was ok, so I just replaced the battery. Well 2 weeks later the alternator finally went, and started draining the new battery. Lucky for me the battery and then engine died just 10 feet away from my local pepboys. So I pushed it in and got the alternator replaced for around $250, all check lights went away too.

[WVU91Camry]

I just went through this twice....

A few months ago, the same lights came on and the great people of this board suggested changing alternators...I did and the problem went away for a few days, but then the lights started coming back on, sometimes always on, sometimes flashing, sometimes blinking with the RPMs.....Spent 3 days going over wiring schematics and harnesses to no avail. The closest I came to finding the problem was when I pushed on the round connector the light went off. AutoZone tested the alternator 4 times and passed them all, put it back in the car and it worked for a day before the lights came back on...finally got tired of it and decieded to buy another alternator.....and WALA! The lights have been off for a week and counting...I think the voltage regulator in the (cheaply) rebuilt alternator was bad.

Give it a try....at $120, it's one of the cheaper fixes on this car.