sandcrawler

in the vein of "if it isn't broken, fix it until it is" i cleaned my engine compartment for the first time this weekend.

now my "e-brake" "battery discharging" and "a/t oil temp" warning lights are all on. they came on immediately after having cleaned it, and since the "a/t oil temp" comes on at startup (can't possibly be hot at that point) i figure that things are just confused.

question is, how do i get these lights to go off? i've tried pulling the ECU fuse and disconnecting the battery but no luck.

any ideas?

sandcrawler

huh, just got back from a ride and, well, i think i may have fried my alternator.

i noticed that the voltmeter was in the low range (just below the mid-mark) and all the power accessories (windows, etc) seemed sluggish. also, the ABS light kept coming on and off intermittently.

what a drag...

Slowrunner

I am having this same problem.The lights will come on at start up and will not go out. Every thing like windsheild wipers are very slow, but once I drive it for a couple of miles the lights go out and my volts go back to normal and everything works fine. Is this my alt or what?

Babypig

Yes it is the alternator. Just go to toyota and get some new brushes, they are cheap. You can replace the brushes in less than 20 minutes. I did mine on the side of the transcanada in darkness.

Slowrunner

Thanks for the quick reply. I just thought it was odd that it would start working properly after I drive it for awhile.

Sequoia'd

+1 for alternator... when the dash lights up like a x-mas tree, it's the alt. Might as well do the belts while you're in there unless they are already new!

ecraig

could you help i need to swith thE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT 98 AVALON its been on for two years and i have no ENG problems, it causes issues at vehicle inspection in NC

bdeakin

Ecraig, it looks like your engine computer disagrees with you on there not being any problems. Try pulling the codes, either by going to autozone, or by buying a Harbor Freight reader for $30. Find out what it's trying to tell you. If you reset the computer by disconnecting the battery overnight (or more, if necessary), then it will restart the readiness tests. The vehicle inspection place will not pass you (or should not) until your vehicle has passed those tests. If the problem is still present, it will flick the light back on.

While this isn't the right place to be discussing your problem, I do want to be helpful.

northfacer581

yea thats def. the alternator.

i had the exact same situation...but it didnt come up after cleaning the engine compartment, it just slowly starting becoming noticable. had the alternator checked....yea i needed a new one. popped a new one in, everything back to perfect working order.

sandcrawler

funny how this thread resurfaced!

yes, my alternator was toasted. it was probably on its way out anyway; my cleaning the engine compartment just accelerated its demise. next time i do that i will be sure to disconnect the batt and cover the alternator and fuse box in plastic bags just to be safe.

anyway, i had to get a new (reman'd) one. works like a charm now! however i wish i had more time to look into it before getting it fixed b/c i probably would have opted for an aftermarket, higher-amperage unit. chalk another one up to live and learn, i guess.

thanks all!

sandcrawler

also, as a note to the moderators: i think this thread is in the wrong section ... should be "86-95 Trucks & 4Runners"

snap-on

they have gotten "move the thread" happy lately. I have a feeling they are useing some sort of automated scrip or the person moveing is an idiot because there have been a number of threads moved that clearly dont belong were they got moved to, and were in the right place in the first place.

but i digress....