I hit a few puddles the other day while i was off roading then i drove home. The next morning i started my 1988 4x4 toyota pickup and both the charge warning light and the brake warning lights were on. I have driven the vehicle for 3 days now and they have not went away. I took the alternator off and got it tested and it passed. The truck starts right up every time so my battery is not being drained faulty alternator either. I read out 12.3 volts at the battery while the truck is running. My volt gauge does not raise any higher than right about twelve volts either. I need help trying to fix this problem.

 

Charge + brake = fried alternator

 

^^yup

Your lucky mine did that 2 weeks ago and I got 3 miles before it died. It did that 10 years ago and I drove it another 600 miles for 10 days. Generally it's the alternator brushes which cost about $5. It took about 1/2 hour to replace them. You can take it to someone to rebuild it for fairly cheap too if you look around.

 

Mine did that.
The bearings were trashed, and the thing could barely stay running.
I changed my alt. today in about an hour. It's an easy job if you know what to do.

 

x999 definitely alternator, Mine did that, but I tell you what, I took the brand new one into autozone to get tested to be sure, and it Passed their tester. but he was nice enough to change it out for me anyway and low and behold the lights went out and haven't been on since. Although it's only been in there for maybe 700 miles. Luckily I have an old OEM backup someone at work gave me from their yota just in case this one goes out on the trails.

 

I had the same issue, changed the alternator, and then about a week later, the lights flashed on for a second again, but that was it. That was yesterday, drove 2 hours this morning, no light, no issues. Still got good voltage on battery, and it goes up to about 15 when the rpms are reved up, so it seems as though the alternator is charging the battery. Anyone know how the relay involved works with regards to making those two lights come on?

 

Just had the same issue,but also had the A/T temp light along with the charge and brake.Why do 3 lights come on when only 1 problem?

 

If you have both charge and brake lights on then more than likely you have a short in the electronic choke coil. Don't change the alternator without first unplugging the electronic choke wire and see if they go out. You will save yourself about a hundred bucks if this makes the lights go off. It worked for me. Now I just have to replace choke coil. I got this tip from a mechanic friend who has all the repair books on his computer. An alternator may be a temporary fix but light will come on again....