so i just bought a surf and it needs a new alternator i think. i used a multi-meter to test the voltage( i touched the meter to the battery posts) and got 12 when the battery is off and 11 during idling. its supposed to be 14 right?. im going to get it rebuilt i think but just wanted someone else's opinion. also it has a dual batter setup

 

Voltage should be near 14 volts when running, if the alternator is charging.

Look at the alternator brushes first, before buying another one.

 

Disconnect the second battery and any isolator you have installed then troubleshoot. It's more complicated to troubleshoot a system that is not stock.
Then take voltage measurements according to this:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f116.../#post52401963

 

the second battery is stock i believe ?

 

I doubt that dual-battery setup is stock. Check IG, S and B wire voltages as I describe on link above.

 

i followed ur diagram and it is definitely the alternator. i have never replaced one before so is their any chance you have a guide or diagram of some sort thati can follow? thanks in advance

 

Glad you figured it out. Best to make sure you are only replacing a bad part and that doing so will fix your problem.
Sorry, I do not know how 1991 surf is setup. On out 1986 4Runner with the 22RE, best way to replace alt is to access from the bottom. Need to drain radiator and remove the outlet hose. Make sure you disconnect battery first.

 

Just a note about pulling that bottom radiator hose.
No matter how well you think you've drained the radiator, when you go to pull the bottom (outlet) hose, it will still have water in it. It will do it's best to maliciously dump every drop left into your eyes or mouth. Even up your nose, if it can.

I change my hoses every spring, and every spring I drink radiator water. I've gotten to where I give it a good flush before I drop that bottom hose. At least I don't get a lot of antifreeze.

Just a heads up. These trucks are getting old, and are just grumpy and mean. Malicious, no question. They're worse than I am before coffee. You have been warned!
Pat☺

 

@2ToyGuy , Excellent point. Also a good time to do a flush. I use backflushing t-tap from Prestone that is inserted on one of the heater hoses. It facilitates backflushing with engine off using a garden hose.
I alsl do the "heavy-duty" flush described on the Prestone flushing solution instructions.

 

On my '87 with 22RE I did it from the top. Didn't seem to be a problem.

 

Yeah it goes in from the top but it's a bit of a juggling act and you need to be able to hold it in an awkward angle. Somewhere in my photo album is a reference picture..

I did two of these in the parking lot at -10° before I just removed the PS belt due to the leak.

 

Here's a picture, it goes in like this from the top then you can reach up from the bottom and rotate it where it's supposed to be.

 

got it out, the pivot bolt was just a bitch. took it into get rebuilt and turns out the regulator was bad so im picking it up tomorrow and we should be back on the road.
thanks for the help

 

i just got the alternator rebuilt the guy said he tested it(came very highly recommended), i picked it up and installed it, went for a drive this morning to charge the battery and it was dying. all the dash lights came on below 2000rpm and it was very sluggish. but after 2000rpms they went away but the electronics (like windshield wipers, tacs) wouldn't work and the battery wasn't really charging so. i think its the battery? i just dropped them off to get tested and maybe get new ones if they are bad
any other ideas ?

 

i’d probably look hard at the rebuilt alternator. perhaps take it to someplace else to test it.

otherwise, you are on the trail of throwing parts at a problem, rather than solving it.

 

darn! I swear I tried that but should have tried a little harder. I didn't go so far as taking the air filter assembly out though. ( 1985) it would have been better. I'll give it a try one day with the old one!

 

in a 1st gen, w/22re, it can be installed from the top without removing the air intake tubing.

 

im going to take it in on Monday to get tested again maybe something wasn’t fixed correctly. Cause he originally replaced the regulator with one that he thought would work so maybe it didn’t. We don’t have exact ones in canada

 

Perform voltage checks I mentioned with rebuilt. altermator.