I'm a newbie here so if this has been discussed before please forgive me. I've got an 82 4wd pickup with around 300,000 miles on it. The truck runs great but when I start it the brake and battery light stay on.Sometimes they will go off if I hit a bump but will eventually come back on. Any ideas where should look first? Thanks.

 

Your alternator isnt charging. More than likely the brushes are bad and worn out. I sell sets of brushes for $15 shipped to you. Better to fix your alternator than to go buy a rebuilt kragen piece of junk. Toyota reman's are expensive. Let me know if you are interested

 

I checked that it is charging. But thank you for the reply. I appreciate any help.

 

I'm having the same problem in my '87 2WD, but only at idle. If I give the throttle a little blip, they disappear for a moment, but as soon as it's back down to idle, there they are again, faintly glimmering and taunting me in the face. I went to vatozone and picked up a new set of brushes for like 4 bucks, and I'm waiting for it to quit raining to go replace them (no garage...).

Lemme know if it works for ya, 'cause from what I hear, most alt. problems can be fixed with new brushes, esp. when they've a coupla hundred thou on them. Otherwise, just get a reman alt (about $80), and toss the old one.

*EDIT* BTW, anyone know of a good step-by-step for an alt rebuild? Never worked on a vehicle this old, much less my 22R. I'd kinda like to not eff it up too bad... Did just buy the dman thing...

 

I have had this problem before. With the lights on and the engine idling, look up under the passenger side dash. Along the wall there should be a relay mounted with a green connector going to it. This is the charge light relay. Tap it a few times and see if the lights turn off, if they do the relay is your problem. On mine hitting the PS dash would turn them off.

Toyota will charge ~$80 for one, I got mine from another member on here. Or you could just take it off and leave it off, I did that, and the only bad thing is the light never comes on.

 

Hey Rowdy235 thanks a million that was it! Those lights were driving me crazy. What a great website this is.

 

You're welcome. I know first-hand how dang frustrating that problem is.

 

Rowdy, You are the man. I've been fighting with the alternator light since last July and you are the first to come up with the solution. In the process I rebuilt the alternator and bought a new ICU. You deserve suggestion of the year award. Now all I have to do is find a replacement for the relay. Thanks again. Fred.

 

Does the charge light relay have anything to do with the charging? My truck is still overcharging, can't find the problem, and havn't found a wiring diagram that is easily interpreted.

 

No, the relay just controls the light

 

Check the IC regulator on top of the Driver side wheelwell. Ive had this problem too many times. Battery used to boil over, then i replaced it with an new Toyota IC regulator and its good. Ive had problems with 'other' brand names twice, then i got and used toyota one from a Bud.
Make sure all those old connections are still good with good battery contacts and good grounds on both the Alt and IC regulator.