The 4runner just died on my wife while she was driving to work. Funny part is she hasn't driven it in weeks, I wanted to drive her GTO today....she ain't happy.

Anyway, before it died the battery light came on, she called me, I instructed to turn all electric stuff off. Then she texted me a picture of the voltmeter, it was well below half (8-9 volts I think???). Then the rear anti-lock light came on. Then she lost power, became hard to steer, so she pulled over. Then it died, and when she tries to crank it, it makes one click, that's it.

(don't you love trying to get the wife to explain car problems)

A little history......battery tested at Autozone a few weeks ago when the starter went out...checked out fine. Replaced the starter only to find out the problem was the positive lead from starter to battery, replaced that. Left the new starter on, what the heck why not?

Anyway, back on point......she just got a jump, limped it into work. She said voltmeter went to normal, then creeped back down again before she just made it to work.

I'm thinking, get battery checked again first??? Alternator??? The battery contacts are clean.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

I would think that the alternator is toast. It would have drained the battery, and the jump would have charged the battery just enough. Try jumping it off, if it runs fine with the cable attatched, un hook them and see if she dies. If so, bye bye alternator.

 

Thanks....that's what I was thinking. Got another alternator ordered, it should be in this am....gonna be loads of fun working on it in my wife's job parking lot....about 25 miles from home.

 

when my alternator died it 1st started as interimittant flashing of the varios dummy lights on the dash and then just crapped out while i was driving home, replaced the alternator and all ws good again.

my money is on the alternator. but,then again, i don't have any money.

 

Most alternator failures are due to worn out brushes. When you get the old alternator off, take the back plate off and remove the brush holder. If the brushes are worn out, just solder new ones into the holder. (or you can buy a new holder with new brushes already soldered in) This way you will have a working spare alternator for the price of the $2 replacement brushes.

 

+1 for alternator

 

WOW...quickest fix yet on the 4runner...I can't believe how easy the alternator was to replace....and it was the problem.....back in business!!!

 

my 88 yota did somthing like that the e brake light came on when the altinater went out i called it the red light of deth lol