check oil + battery lights - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

rony · 11-03-2004, 12:34 AM

Just came on? Is there a common problem following/leading up to this? The car still starts fine, battery is fine, idle has not changed, do not overheat... did not run hard at all today. Not sure what could have caused this, was just cruising home and bam they turned on I do know that my cams are not aligned properly (can never get timing right, that will be adressed later on) I have 173k miles and have no idea whats going on? Oil changed about 1500 miles ago, am not low at all... any suggestions? Someone told me it might be my alternator, is there any way to test this my self?

NoSirItsAToyota · 11-03-2004, 12:50 AM

I don't know how to test the alternator while its in the car, but that definitely is the sign that the alternator is going out.

CraigW · 11-03-2004, 06:03 AM

Voltmeter across battery when running all lights and blower on, 13.5-14.0 volts good anything less is not.

Sidney from Canada posted some great starter and alternator sites in the Truck section. They may help with diagnosis. The units are pretty much the same.

CW

rony · 11-03-2004, 08:34 AM

Seems it was the alternator, ran the test... got 10ish volts, left the car on for a little bit, turned off and wouldn't turn back on. :\