Lights On

I'm wondering if anyone can give some hints on this. The Brake, Charge and
Tail-Brake-Lights indicator lights in my 1990 Camry would come on for a few
minutes during drive. They don't come on right after start and will go off
by themselves after a few minutes. The engine and the car run fine during
this time. All the other indicator do not have this problem.

So where should I start?

Thanks for your help!

On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:05:46 +0000, ZR wrote:
[color=blue]
> I'm wondering if anyone can give some hints on this. The Brake, Charge and
> Tail-Brake-Lights indicator lights in my 1990 Camry would come on for a few
> minutes during drive. They don't come on right after start and will go off
> by themselves after a few minutes. The engine and the car run fine during
> this time. All the other indicator do not have this problem.
>
> So where should I start?
>
> Thanks for your help![/color]

Classic indicatuion that your alternator is telling you it's on the way
out...

>> I'm wondering if anyone can give some hints on this. The Brake, Charge[color=blue][color=green]
>> and
>> Tail-Brake-Lights indicator lights in my 1990 Camry would come on for a
>> few
>> minutes during drive. They don't come on right after start and will go
>> off
>> by themselves after a few minutes. The engine and the car run fine during
>> this time. All the other indicator do not have this problem.
>>
>> So where should I start?
>>
>> Thanks for your help![/color]
>
> Classic indicatuion that your alternator is telling you it's on the way
> out...[/color]

Thanks! Is there a way to test if that's the case when it's not acting up?

"ZR" <ZR@ABC.COM> wrote in message
news:Z4JOg.2140$UG4.976@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=blue][color=green][color=darkred]
>>> I'm wondering if anyone can give some hints on this. The Brake, Charge
>>> and
>>> Tail-Brake-Lights indicator lights in my 1990 Camry would come on for a
>>> few
>>> minutes during drive. They don't come on right after start and will go
>>> off
>>> by themselves after a few minutes. The engine and the car run fine
>>> during
>>> this time. All the other indicator do not have this problem.
>>>
>>> So where should I start?
>>>
>>> Thanks for your help![/color]
>>
>> Classic indicatuion that your alternator is telling you it's on the way
>> out...[/color]
>
> Thanks! Is there a way to test if that's the case when it's not acting up?[/color]


You could probably take it to autozone and have them test it.

On Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:35:14 -0500, Reasoned Insanity wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "ZR" <ZR@ABC.COM> wrote in message
> news:Z4JOg.2140$UG4.976@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...[color=green][color=darkred]
>>>> I'm wondering if anyone can give some hints on this. The Brake, Charge
>>>> and
>>>> Tail-Brake-Lights indicator lights in my 1990 Camry would come on for a
>>>> few
>>>> minutes during drive. They don't come on right after start and will go
>>>> off
>>>> by themselves after a few minutes. The engine and the car run fine
>>>> during
>>>> this time. All the other indicator do not have this problem.
>>>>
>>>> So where should I start?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks for your help!
>>>
>>> Classic indicatuion that your alternator is telling you it's on the way
>>> out...[/color]
>>
>> Thanks! Is there a way to test if that's the case when it's not acting up?[/color]
>
>
> You could probably take it to autozone and have them test it.[/color]


BAH! They will probably tell you it's bad and have you buy a new one for
$75 or LOTS more...

Well, that IS their business after all!!

BUT...I am willing to bet that the brushes have worn down. You can get
brushed at CarQuest for about $9.

If you're lucky, they are the screw-in type. You replace the brushes and
screw the terminals onto theterminals on the alternator.

I'm not lucky...on my 'Hachiroku' and my Celica GT-S they needed to be
soldered. No big deal, I've been soldering professionally since I was 19.

the BITCH is, getting the whole mess back together, with the springs and
the brushes. If you're lucky, again, you can get a plastic 'sleeve'
somewher that will fit over everything and slide the whole mess back
together. I'm not that lucky. With one hand, you hold one side, with the
other hand you hold the brushes and springs in place, and with your third
hand you mate the two halves together...

Might as well replace the bearings while you're at it...$17 at Toyota, $8
at CarQuest.


Beats $80 or more for a new alternator! Takes a patient person about 2
hours...takes ME three!

> BAH! They will probably tell you it's bad and have you buy a new one for

I didn't take it to test at Autozone. My thinking was they are either going
to lie or couldn't find any problem when it's not acting up which is most of
the time.
[color=blue]
> $75 or LOTS more...[/color]

$115 for rebuilt.
[color=blue]
> BUT...I am willing to bet that the brushes have worn down. You can get
> brushed at CarQuest for about $9.[/color]

You are absolutely right. The brushes were only 4mm, less than the minimum
of 4.5mm.

New brushes are $4 a pair at Autozone.
[color=blue]
>
> If you're lucky, they are the screw-in type. You replace the brushes and
> screw the terminals onto theterminals on the alternator.
>[/color]

They are screw-on type. But the two screws holding the brush holder are
special and need special tool to take they off. I didn't realize that till
it was too late. Besides I don't have the special (square?) screw driver and
don't want to run around to buy the tool just for this. I ended up broke one
of terminal. I had to solder it back. But I had to solder the brushes onto
the holder anyway.
[color=blue]
> I'm not lucky...on my 'Hachiroku' and my Celica GT-S they needed to be
> soldered. No big deal, I've been soldering professionally since I was 19.
>
> the BITCH is, getting the whole mess back together, with the springs and
> the brushes. If you're lucky, again, you can get a plastic 'sleeve'
> somewher that will fit over everything and slide the whole mess back
> together. I'm not that lucky. With one hand, you hold one side, with the
> other hand you hold the brushes and springs in place, and with your third
> hand you mate the two halves together...
>[/color]

It would not have been that bad if it were not for the broken screw. I had
to hold the brushes, the springs, the holder and the regulater altogether
while putting the whole thing in place.The original brushes seem to have
some type of groves to hold the springs inside the holder.
[color=blue]
> Might as well replace the bearings while you're at it...$17 at Toyota, $8
> at CarQuest.
>
>
> Beats $80 or more for a new alternator! Takes a patient person about 2
> hours...takes ME three!
>[/color]

Took an impatient person like me half a day. After put everything back
together and installed on the car, I noticed I forgot the rubber boot while
testing. Had to redo it. But still worth $110 saving.