Battery + Brake Light

Feb 16, 2004 3 Replies
J

Hi all,



I have a 1990 Camry that has been nothing but reliable for me. However, recently, I noticed that the battery light and brake light would come on for a few seconds while I'm driving. The lights would then go off again, and would repeat on-off during a driving stretch. My brake fluid level is fine, and there seems to be nothing wrong with the car functionally (drives normally, and starts up everyday). I think it might be a loose connection or something. Anyone heard or seen this before, is there something to worry about here? Thanks in advance.



Adam


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B

Both lights at once is a sign that the alternator is slowly dying - it quits for a minute, and then starts working again. Often it's only worn out slip-ring brushes to the alternator rotor coils, and handy people can just swap in new brushes (around $15 at the dealer with the leads already soldered to a new brush holder) and be good to go.

If you aren't a very handy person, you're better off finding a local auto electric shop that can pop out the alternator, change the brushes (and check the other wear items - coils, ball bearings, diodes, voltage regulator) reinstall it, and you're good for another 10 years.

The rebuilds from Chain Retail parts stores are usually crud. (I've gone through three knuckle-busting R&R's to get one that actually works...) The Genuine Toyota Remanufactured Alternators at the dealer are great - but are very expensive.

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Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700 5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545 Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.
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=

= no charging fromt he alternator

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F

=_NextPart_000_020D_01C3F554.9F80EB30 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

You probably need to adjust the switch located at the pedal, it is the = one that activates the light. When you press the pedal, it releases a switch, and the light goes on.

That has happened to me in the past, it just a matter of adjusting it.

"Jon Smith" <johnsmith@smith.com> wrote = in message=20 news:403105f5$1@news.sentex.net...Hi=20 all,I have a 1990 Camry that has been nothing but reliable for = me.  However,recently, I noticed that the battery light and = brake=20 light would come on fora few seconds while I'm driving.  The = lights=20 would then go off again, andwould repeat on-off during a driving=20 stretch.  My brake fluid level is fine,and there seems to be = nothing=20 wrong with the car functionally (drivesnormally, and starts up=20 everyday).  I think it might be a loose connectionor = something. =20 Anyone heard or seen this before, is there something to worryabout = here?  Thanks in = advance.Adam ------=_NextPart_000_020D_01C3F554.9F80EB30--
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