Kinked

HI. I just put a new head unit and speakers into the truck a couple days ago. once or twice since then the engine has sounded slow turning over but not all the time. this morning it just won't start. no turn over nothing. all i get is a click from the passenger side when i turn the key to start.

with the key in on, the voltmeter in the dash reads slightly below the operating level then as i turn to start it slowly goes down. and dims the clock.

i have tried disconnecting the power to the stereo and still nothing.

Kinked

well i jumped it and it kinda worked... now i'm letting it sit to see if there is a drain somewhere.

at least its not the starter

eighty5yota

you might have hooked up the ignition hot wire to a full time hot.. thats the only thing i can think of? unless its your alternator

904_runner

it might be in your wiring or possibly try cleaning off the battery terminals.

Kinked

i checked the alt.. still good, and cleaned the terminals.

maybe someone with more electrical expertise can answer this... when i installed the new head unit i put the ground wire directly to the frame... i moved it back to the harness now and evrything seems fine.. but would that drain the battery

mr toytech

no. you hooked up the power wires wrong. recheck your instructions.

Kinked

well... turns out that the problem isn't fixed... just went for a little drive and the brake light, bat light, and at temp light all came on at once.. got home and decided to check the alternator by disconnecting the battery.. like i did before, and the truck stopped.

as for the radio. i was given a harness to attach the head unit. and that is what i did. colour to colour.

just a 22re

yeah your alt is dead my friend or did you seam to lose your belt?

just a 22re

alt belt runs the water pump if i think im right

CJM

You dont think perhaps your battery is toast and the new head unit and stuff is killing whats left of it?

Matt16

I would be very surprised if it weren't the following:

The tiny extra draw killed your alternator, which was already on its last legs. You're alternator has little "brushes" inside it which have worn out. The battery light and the brake light together just mean the charging system (chiefly the alternator) has a problem. I know the new radio doesn't sound like a huge draw, but chances are, you have the radio on to test it, or the dome light was on while you were working on the truck with the door open- this drained the battery- which killed the alt. That's at least how I understand it. Same thing happened to me when I installed back up lights- it killed the alt before I ever really had them on.

The fix is that you go down to the autoparts store and buy alternator brushes from either the 22RE or V6, it doesn't matter it is the same part. My 22RE alt has 3VZE brushes in it, and it runs fine- they looked identical when I took them out. THis is what they look like:

space-junk

iTrader: (1)

so, does anyone know of a high amp alternator that works good for bigger stereos and lots o lights??? when i have all my lights on and my stereo and amps/subs kickin, my dash and headlights almost go out iwth the uplses of the music...

eighty5yota

just get a 2 farad power capacitor or 2 and a couple of yellow top optimas daisy chained ... youll have more than enough i have a 2400w system and a few other devices plugged into the battery .
with the stock alternator and a couple power caps ..
nothing dims,overloads or trips. headlights dont dim. (dead giveaway for cops lookin for the beat) its overlooked alot

Kinked

Hey, thanks for all your help. turns out it was the alternator. just put my new one in and she works like a dream.

changing the alt was a lot easier than i though, only took an hour and a half including the time to go to lordco and get the new one

scuba

tell you the truth you should have just put new brushes in yours, that nippon denso one would have ran for another 5284834 miles.
the rebuilts you get from parts stores arent the best, but its already done.
Glad you got it goin

Matt16

x2. Do you at least have a discount at Lordco?

Kinked

he gave me the new one for 240 instead of 290, i can't complain really