I was driving down the road and my brake indicator and battery indicator both came on and my voltage gauge is "jumping". What could cause this? A bad alternator?

 

Didn't search at all did you?

That is the standard "bad alternator" warning

:wabbit2:

 

No I didn't search. I wasn't sure how on the mobile site, but I did see the button after posting. Sorry lol. I just wanted to be sure that's what it was before I went and bought a new one. Thanks.

 

check your "CHARGE" fuse under the hood and battery/alternator connections first. Or what ever the charging circuit is labeled on those.

 

I already checked the connections. I will check the fuse. Is it just a regular fuse? I know I had a bad diode a couple years ago that's why I just figured it was the alternator.

 

yeah it's a regular fuse. I wanna say 7.5 amp. It's for the exciter field on the alt, if that blows the alt wont work.

 

Can this be made a Stickey??

 

Thanks guys for your help today! I got it fixed, i went down to Jims Used Toyota Truck Parts and bought one. It cost me around $40 for a used alternator.. They were really cool. I drove my 4runner down :3 so I changed it right there and I dont have a pry bar and they let me borrow one to get the tension on the belt... It took maybe 20 minutes to replace.. I will definitely be doing business with them again!

 

keep your old alternator around and rebuild it. There is a thread on here showing how to.