1991 corolla problems - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

catfishrod69 · 02-15-2009, 07:18 PM

i have a 91 corolla sedan..the headlights and heater started dimming real bad on it, and i thought that the alternator was going bad, and well it did, died on me about 10 times...had the alternator rebuilt, and was fine for about 3 weeks, and now the are dimming again...didnt know if anyone has any suggestions of what it might be....the lights and heater will dim then go back to normal then over and over... thanks

jmaz87 · 02-15-2009, 10:30 PM

i would start by replacing grounding wires and your batt terminals. alt wire etc.

catfishrod69 · 02-16-2009, 05:56 AM

will try thanks...

ericdude · 02-16-2009, 02:22 PM

The heater gets its heat from the engine coolant; it's not electric. What
do you mean by 'heater dimming'. You mean the fan?

***REN69*** · 02-16-2009, 08:28 PM

Have you checked the battery to make sure it's not the one causing the problem?

jmaz87 · 02-16-2009, 11:09 PM

i was assuming he meant the "console-light" err uh yea fan sounds better :P

catfishrod69 · 02-17-2009, 07:29 PM

well you know how you can control the the the level of the blower on the heater? by turning the lever up for the heat to blow out harder and then down for lower, well the heater dims that way...i will have the heater set on high, and it will dim down as if its on low, and then back to high, then back to low, constantly..and the headlights do the same...high beams will dim down to lower than low beams, and the low beams will dim almost all the way out...

Quote:

Originally Posted by ericdude

The heater gets its heat from the engine coolant; it's not electric. What
do you mean by 'heater dimming'. You mean the fan?

catfishrod69 · 02-17-2009, 07:31 PM

i havent checked it yet, but as far as i know its a good battery..

Quote:

Originally Posted by REN69

Have you checked the battery to make sure it's not the one causing the problem?

***REN69*** · 02-17-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catfishrod69

i havent checked it yet, but as far as i know its a good battery..

That's what I used to think about my old battery, until I put another one on there.

jmaz87 · 02-18-2009, 04:43 AM

actually this sounds a bit more like a regulator problem with your alternator. get it rebuilt at a local shop. my land cruiser alternator took like 3 days and 60$ to rebuild.

should be same or less... it's a start

catfishrod69 · 02-18-2009, 07:10 AM

probably be the first thing i try..a easy thing to try first..

Quote:

Originally Posted by REN69

That's what I used to think about my old battery, until I put another one on there.

catfishrod69 · 02-18-2009, 07:11 AM

well the car was having these problems, and then it died on me around 9 or 10 times, and then i had the alternator tested and it was bad, so i had a reliable place that does awesome work rebuild it, and the problem stopped for about three weeks, then came back....

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmaz87

actually this sounds a bit more like a regulator problem with your alternator. get it rebuilt at a local shop. my land cruiser alternator took like 3 days and 60$ to rebuild.

should be same or less... it's a start

freakinbox · 02-18-2009, 07:21 AM

I have the same issue at idle... with the fan and lights running the voltage drops. Alternator and battery have been replaced so I stopped worrying about it lol. Once it gets warm I plan to check the grounds on it. I know my starter connection is tight and clean because I pulled the starter year and a bit ago to repair it.

That is the issue with cars as old as ours.. Eventually the wiring will go. The plastic on them only lasts so long then will crack and allow water in.

catfishrod69 · 02-18-2009, 08:01 AM

mine does it when just the fan is running, or just the lights, or both...if the lights are on, theyll dim, if the heater is on the blower will dim, and if they are both on theyll both dim...i just dont wanna drive it til i get it fixed cause i dont wanna burn up a newly rebuilt alternator and then have to blow another $75....

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakinbox

I have the same issue at idle... with the fan and lights running the voltage drops. Alternator and battery have been replaced so I stopped worrying about it lol. Once it gets warm I plan to check the grounds on it. I know my starter connection is tight and clean because I pulled the starter year and a bit ago to repair it.

That is the issue with cars as old as ours.. Eventually the wiring will go. The plastic on them only lasts so long then will crack and allow water in.

WagonLover · 02-18-2009, 08:42 PM

Take the alternator out and get it bench-tested at your local parts store - they usually do it for free. I had a problem like this on an 89 4 x 4 Toyota Truck - it was a bad stator (sp?) in the alternator.