Replaced alternator - what else?? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

GaspipeBob216 · 03-28-2011, 07:12 AM

Ok, have a 99 Solara 4 cyl. Battery light came on inside the vehicle and the wipers were moving really slow. I took the battery in for a test - was fine. I then put a multimeter on the battery while the car was on and off -and it read 12V DC the whole time. That lead me to believe it was the alternator - so I replaced it.

It did not do the trick. Same problem, and now the battery is down to about 7 V - so it is not getting a charge at all. Any ideas???

I saw that there are two fuses for the alternator. One was a small 5a labeled 'ALT-S' - I changed it. I saw the other is a 100 amp that would not pull out - I have no clue how to remove it in order to test it.... Has anyone done that before?

Also, I checked continuity between the alternator and positive battery post - that was fine too....

carsrus · 03-28-2011, 07:50 AM

It could be excessive drain with the car off. Check to see if something pulling power even with the key off.

Also, a bad battery could be it. Sometimes cells will conk out and its hard to test. If you have a second car swap batteries and see what happens.

GaspipeBob216 · 03-28-2011, 08:20 AM

I tested for drain - that was fine. This issue is that it isn't charging.

Will try swapping batteries. I took this one into Autozone on saturday and it tested fine there, but will see what happens when I swap.

AlmightyCamry777 · 03-28-2011, 10:16 AM

It's possible the alternator is bad out of the box. It's happened to me more then once. A brand new $150 autolite alternator, hooked it up and tested with the VOM - bad. so i'd Have that tested also.

GaspipeBob216 · 03-30-2011, 07:46 AM

You were right - Turns out alternator was bad out of the box. Great.

I took it up to Autozone to test it and died in the parking lot. They told me there was no way to test an alternator with a dead battery, and offered to call me a tow. At the same time, a neighbor pulled into the lot and I was able to jump and charge the battery to the nearest Marathon.

Diagnosis: Bad alternator.

Have it back home, going to take the alternator back Autozone for a new one. Man....