The other day my 4runners' ('92 sr5 3.0) alternator light came on and the gage showed discharge. Funny thing is the e-brake light came on also. After a couple of minutes everything was working normally. Since then, it has done it several more times, and now, the lights stay on. Checked my grounds and other wires, everything seems ok. Do these have an external voltage regulator, and could that be the problem, or am I stuck w/ replacing the alternator? Any thoughs would be appreciated, I'm really pushed for time on this and can't afford to spend a lot of time trouble shooting. Thanks
Rick

 

its time for an alternator.

 

Pull the alt and check the brushes...$3 repair on my 88 4 runner...same lights had come on..good luck

 

So tonight after work, I crawl into the 'runner and everything is working great. I had to run some errands, mutiple stops and starts,running with the headlights and heater on, and everything is still GTG. I'm still going to pull it and have it tested, knowing my luck it'll quit for good 50 miles up in the mountains, and I'll be wishing I had changed it out.
Rick