Hi Ryan,
I've created a new thread for this so that it won't be buried under alternator belt tension.
Here's Al's explanation for this:
If the battery/charge light is on when the engine is running, then
>almost surely the alternator output is insufficient. Eleven volts at
>40 amp load sounds a bit low but the real test of an alternator is its
>current output. I've found that a good way to test an alternator is to
>put a big ammeter (like can be found in auto stores for custom set-ups)
>in series connected to the battery ground (negative) terminal. I use a
>hefty -60 to +60 amp meter with a spare battery terminal connected to
>one of the ammeter terminals and the car battery ground (negative)cable
>connected via an old copper braided ground wire connected to the
>ammeter's other terminal. As long as you don't crank it too long and
>fry the ammeter you can watch the current flow as various loads
>(headlights, rear window heater etc.) are turned on. If the current
>goes negative as load is applied, the alternator is bad. If current
>stays around zero or slightly positive as load is applied, the
>alternator ouput is keeping up.
>
>The warning light is electrically positioned between the battery and
>the alternator so that when the alternator can output an amount of
>current equivalent to the load being asked of the battery no current
>flow goes through the light and it stays off. If the alternator cannot
>keep up with the load, battery current will flow through the light and
>it is thus illuminated. Similiarly, if the light is NOT on with the
>ignition on and the engine off, the alternator is bad due to an
>internal open circuit i.e battery current is unable to flow through the
>alternator to ground. The simultaneous illumination of the parking
>brake light and the battery/charge light is a peculuarity of Japanese
>warning lamp circuits. It means nothing and will go off when the
>alternator circuit is OK.
>
>Hope this helps and isn't too obtuse. Good luck.
>
> Al
>
Also, could your washing caused a short in the wiring somewhere? Did you get the alternator, distributor cap, etc wet?
My battery discharge warning has gone away since I replaced the alternator, BUT, the occasional Parking Brake warning comes on. I have checked the switch at the bottom of the parking brake and that looks fine. So there is another yet unknown reason for this brake warning. I do have responsive brakes while on the road.
Chris
Just came across this posting and the brake light battery warning light
>problem just popped up in my 92 Toyota pickup today after washing it.
>What could be the cause of this? Up until I washed it there were no
>problems with the warning lights, they would go on when the key was
>turned on and then go offf right after.
>
>Please help.