When Alternator Goes Bad

mrnickleye · 10-31-2007, 02:26 PM

Ok, so it finally happened to me. 175K. Not bad. It lasted 17 years.

I got into the car, started it up, and wham !

The 'Battery, Tail Light Bulb, & Brake' lights were all on. The volt meter showed only 12v.

New reman alterntor form Carquest, #13278 (mine is automatic trans, so it is 80amp).

Back on the road again.

SuperSpartan · 04-25-2008, 01:21 AM

Im sorta confused i have a thing that tells me the voltage and sometimes it wont start i cant tell if its the battery or the alternator?
any ideas how to test them?

jchaske · 07-22-2008, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperSpartan

Im sorta confused i have a thing that tells me the voltage and sometimes it wont start i cant tell if its the battery or the alternator?
any ideas how to test them?

Just got a 87 nonturbo, before that worked on american classics, but to test the alternator I would simply pull the negative battery connection while the car is running, if it dies out immediately the alternator is not providing the charge, the battery is, hope this helps!

SuperSpartan · 07-26-2008, 01:13 AM

YEAH! i did it thanks alot
battery is weak
alternator works great

MA70-3.0GT · 11-07-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchaske

Just got a 87 nonturbo, before that worked on american classics, but to test the alternator I would simply pull the negative battery connection while the car is running, if it dies out immediately the alternator is not providing the charge, the battery is, hope this helps!

Not to rubbish that idea as it's fine on older stuff without electronics (indeed I've started many older cars with a good battery before removing that one & putting the flat one back in to charge, whilst it's running), but as soon as you start doing that on vehicles with ECU's, EFI and other electronic circuits (and we all know the Japanese especially LOVE electronic goodies!), you run the risk of damaging any number of components from a coil right through to the main ECU by creating a voltage spike as you remove the battery lead. (the alternator's kicking out the current to run the car & charge the battery, all of a sudden the load of charging the battery disappears & in the split second before the regulator can catch up *Bang*, there goes all the electronics that were switched on at the time...)

Avoiding voltage spikes can also apply to jump starting from another car, always make sure you connect the neg/- lead to the dead car last & disconnect it first & never hook it to the battery - post on the dead vehicle, always to a good earth like an engine mount or piece of the block/head. Like I say, not rubbishing the idea & it's fine on older stuff, just not these...

yuyo · 11-17-2009, 07:54 AM

wow 17 years really a hardcore...

MA70-3.0GT · 11-26-2009, 02:13 PM

Still waiting on mine to go, 135k & nearly 20 years!!! (has stood at least 4 too).

Guess it's not as healthy as it could be but still charging, just...

EDIT-: I shouldn't have posted here, I knew it!!! So literally the day after making this post as I'm driving the car the 2.5 miles or so home after collecting it, I switch the blower on to clear the screen & the car nearly dies till I (rapidly!) switched the blower off again, get home & the previously freshly charged battery is at 8.76 volts... lucky me.

EDIT #2-: so while the engine's in bits for the HG job I stripped the back off the alternator & the slip rings aren't too bad, brushes were dead though. I've just cleaned up the contact surfaces & stretched the springs for now to see if it works when she's all back together. If it does then I'll try to find a brushbox for the right money before spending out on a recon.

drstenso · 05-02-2008, 01:43 PM

mine just went out too! like 3 days ago. 165k hiiii 5

SuperSpartan · 05-03-2008, 07:30 AM

yea i know what you mean i know mines bound to come
my cars been nothing but problems lol

at least you guys got funds

jonjay · 08-20-2008, 05:18 PM

To all that are thinking about purchasing any supra engine 1jz gte, 2jz gte or anything as such. i highly recommand that you do not buy off these guys. Mike and Asa have no knowledge about what they are selling. i purchased a 1jz gte from them and it was not from a supra. it came from a "CHASER" it will not fit my MK III but they claim it will. not to mention that the purduct has damage to it. my oil pan has a gaint dent on it. when i ask if they will send me a new one they gave me the run around for three weeks. then when talking to Miike about who going to pay for shipping he gets upset saying he wont pay for shipping and hangs up on me. i just lost $1000. if you seen JAPAN POWER ON E BAY stay away. they are there to TAKE YOUR MONEY!!!!! i just hope that they will not RIP any more supra owners. do your RESEARCH before buying anything.

07-26-2008, 01:13 AM	#4
SuperSpartan 3" Exhaust Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 97	YEAH! i did it thanks alot battery is weak alternator works great __________________ 1990 Toyota Supra Turbo!! www.cardomain.com/ride/3067504

11-26-2009, 02:13 PM	#7
MA70-3.0GT 12psi boost Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Crewe, England Posts: 356	Still waiting on mine to go, 135k & nearly 20 years!!! (has stood at least 4 too). Guess it's not as healthy as it could be but still charging, just... EDIT-: I shouldn't have posted here, I knew it!!! So literally the day after making this post as I'm driving the car the 2.5 miles or so home after collecting it, I switch the blower on to clear the screen & the car nearly dies till I (rapidly!) switched the blower off again, get home & the previously freshly charged battery is at 8.76 volts... lucky me. EDIT #2-: so while the engine's in bits for the HG job I stripped the back off the alternator & the slip rings aren't too bad, brushes were dead though. I've just cleaned up the contact surfaces & stretched the springs for now to see if it works when she's all back together. If it does then I'll try to find a brushbox for the right money before spending out on a recon. __________________ '89 MA70 Supra GT aero 3.0turbo JDM, Rebuilt motor, K&N intake, 3" stainless turbo-back. New turbo and braided line kit... '89 Honda NC27 400, NC23 cams, open pipe, PC36a shock & possibly Showa USD forks... '83 Yamaha 29R XJ750E-II, number 69 off the line, only runner in the country? Original except Koni shocks '95 Honda PC26 CB500R, Winter hack, hateful, trying to sell it I'm not paranoid, they really ARE after me!!! Last edited by MA70-3.0GT; 12-14-2009 at 04:21 PM.

05-02-2008, 01:43 PM	#8
drstenso Stock Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Granite Falls, WA Posts: 3	haha mine just went out too! like 3 days ago. 165k hiiii 5

05-03-2008, 07:30 AM	#9
SuperSpartan 3" Exhaust Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 97	haha funds yea i know what you mean i know mines bound to come my cars been nothing but problems lol at least you guys got funds __________________ 1990 Toyota Supra Turbo!! www.cardomain.com/ride/3067504

08-20-2008, 05:18 PM	#10
jonjay Stock Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: los angeles Posts: 5 Blog Entries: 1	Japan Power Inc Poor Service To all that are thinking about purchasing any supra engine 1jz gte, 2jz gte or anything as such. i highly recommand that you do not buy off these guys. Mike and Asa have no knowledge about what they are selling. i purchased a 1jz gte from them and it was not from a supra. it came from a "CHASER" it will not fit my MK III but they claim it will. not to mention that the purduct has damage to it. my oil pan has a gaint dent on it. when i ask if they will send me a new one they gave me the run around for three weeks. then when talking to Miike about who going to pay for shipping he gets upset saying he wont pay for shipping and hangs up on me. i just lost $1000. if you seen JAPAN POWER ON E BAY stay away. they are there to TAKE YOUR MONEY!!!!! i just hope that they will not RIP any more supra owners. do your RESEARCH before buying anything.

10-31-2007, 02:26 PM	#1
mrnickleye 1000whp postwhore Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mojave Desert, Calif. Posts: 1,705	When Alternator Goes Bad Ok, so it finally happened to me. 175K. Not bad. It lasted 17 years. I got into the car, started it up, and wham ! The 'Battery, Tail Light Bulb, & Brake' lights were all on. The volt meter showed only 12v. New reman alterntor form Carquest, #13278 (mine is automatic trans, so it is 80amp). Back on the road again. __________________ Had a Red 1989 N/A. Automatic. Sports Pkg. w/wing. TEMS, and some nice MODS. Sold to a friend 10/08/08.

04-25-2008, 01:21 AM	#2
SuperSpartan 3" Exhaust Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tucson Arizona Posts: 97	Im sorta confused i have a thing that tells me the voltage and sometimes it wont start i cant tell if its the battery or the alternator? any ideas how to test them? __________________ 1990 Toyota Supra Turbo!! www.cardomain.com/ride/3067504

11-17-2009, 07:54 AM	#6
yuyo Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: canada Posts: 6	wow 17 years really a hardcore...