Long story, ill try to summarize it.
’87 4Runner. I think its my alternator, but going to ask for any suggestions..
Over the past year I have been having random electrical problems with my runner. My passenger side headlight stopped working. Changed the light, no go. Changed the fuses, no go. It then decided to start working again on its on. My dome light in the cab stopped, then a few weeks later, started again on its own. My front driver side blinker stopped working, changed the bulb, the fuses, and everything else with it. So, onto current problem:
About 3 weeks ago, my Battery and Handbrake light both came on when I had parked my car and left my engine running for about 30seconds. Looked around, didn’t see anything wrong anywhere. About a week after this started, my battery died on me. So, bought a new one. After 2 weeks, the battery was completely drained. So, changed the terminals had the battery recharged and was good.. this was 2 days ago. This morning, I woke up, started the car (Colorado here so its getting colder in the morning) let it run for about 15minutes then started to work. Made it to the base of the hill I live on, and noticed my clock had gone black, and that my stereo was getting a white in it that would match the rev’s on the engine. So, sitting at a traffic light, my Battery Light, and the Handbrake light both started to flicker and fade, and my car started to die. So at this point, im sitting at work trying to think of what it could be. As I said above, I think its my alternator but just looking to see if anyone has any other ideas I can check.
PS: Thinking it could also have something to do with the wiring harness.

 

I would guess Alternator is on its way out. Go pick up some brushes at the local stealer and change them out. Not hard to do.

 

It is the alternator... my 87 runner did the same thing with the idiot lights when mine went out.

 

Any suggestions on an alternator? The one thats going out I pulled from another runner a few years back, so I cant say I wasnt expecting it. But, anyone have any suggestions on an alternator?

 

I got mine from autozone... changed it once already in two years... but new free alt...

 

I'm running a Bosche Alt in mine right now. It's alright, but I'm not wowed by it.

 

Just change the brushes in the alt. 13 bucks from Toyota. 10-20 minute install.

 

it is definetly the alternator....that is the warning light combo(from my hanes maunal) that indicates out alternator....those happened to me, and i replaced it with a toyota one....i don't think you can just replace the brushes, but maybe...

 

I changed mine in 20 minutes in the dark on the trans canada 2 years ago.