The same thing happened with my mom's car, she hadn't had anything done to the alternator though. I'd say either the water got too low, or if the battery was real old, it just )(&#@ed itself up and exploded. I think if your alternator had been doing something funny, it wouldn't have taken so long to explode. How old was the battery? You should check the alternator, too...it might have shorted or something as well. Good luck! Peace!

 

Check the positive battery cable and see if it is in good shape, what you are looking for is exposed wiring that could make contact with the block or some other metal part on the 4runner. I had a battery blowup on me due to this very thing.

 

Great.... a Kirkland battery. I just bought one of those. No wonder is was only $36!:rolleyes:

Mike

 

ITS NOT THE ALT.

 

i just put in the new voltage regulator and battery....
i went to the local autozone parts shop and they tested my rig with there machine, they said i was putting out 14 volts(good), but only 25 amps(bad)...it should be at 65 amps...damn it!

it has to be the altenator is wired up wrong thats all that i can think of, can anyone plzz look at there altentor and see how it is wired up...i have a 1980 4x4 with a 20r motor

any help would be appreciated

 

The alternator will only put out as many amps as are needed to get/keep the battery at 14 +/- volts. I have a 100 amp in my Landcruiser, but it only puts 5-10 into the battery. All that extra is to run the wipers, heater, kick a$$ amplifiers, lights, etc.

Now, did the truck have a 65 amp alternator to begin with? Or did the parts shop sell you a bigger one to help power that amp and lights?

If you put in a bigger one had has the same connections, you are OK as far as the regulator is concerned. You would probably be better off if you rewired the big wire (has the stud with the nut) up to a 10 guage wire direct from that stud to the battery (alternator POS, to battery POS) and dont forget to put in a fuse link (by the battery POS end). That origonal wire may have burned because it was ment for a smaller output alternator.


Did Costco warrantee the battery???? Think they say 2 year free replacement

 

its was just a fegular altenator that i swapped out, the explanation you gave on the amps makes sense thanks

yes costco was really good on replacing the battery, they do prorate it though... i paid 35 bucks for it in 05/02 i only needed to paid just shy of 2 bucks for the new one!

supposedly costco is realllllllly liberal on returns i've heard of people bringing back used products years after they bought them when they break and they have no problem giving money back or even if you bring back the empty styrofoam that the meat comes in and say it didnt taste good they will give your money back

i guess they would rather keep the customer happy by eating a few bucks here and there, whatever works for me i guess

im sure that if i blew up a battery bought from a regular parts store they would laugh at me if i asked for an exchange