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90 4x4: Troubleshooting help: Brake and Alternator Light

Hello, all. I'm hoping someone can help me out, and perhaps save me the trip to the mechanic's.

Over the past couple of days, the brake warning light and the alternator warning light turn on simultaniously. They'll remain on, sometimes steady, sometimes flickering, for anywhere from 10 to 30 mintues. At that point, they'll turn off, and stay off until the engine cools down.

I've checked all the fluid levels that my Haynes manual mentions, but they're all up to spec. Also, I cannot discern any difference in performance or handling. The truck brakes fine, steers find, etc.

Now, if it were just one of the lights, that would give me a hint as to what to check. However, the two lights at the same time has me befuddled, (which is not too hard, considering my lack of mechanical experience).

So, any suggestions on how to proceede would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Michael.

Reply to
Michael Kucan
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Classic sign of worn out alternator brushes, easy and inexpensive to repair:

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Reply to
Roger Brown

I have had this happen before both the ALT and BRAKE warning lights flash or come on and off together. The cause has been the alternator in all but one case. The one excption was a failing under hood fuse/junction box. Hope This Helps, MU

Reply to
MarkU

In alternators the brushes wear out on average every 140-170 000 miles where on the dashboard the brake & charge light both come on at the same time. About half of the auto electric shops in your local yellow pages sell carbon alternator brushes and copper solenoid starter contacts for about $5/pair. For decoding the dashboard lights:

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Here are part #'s for Toyota alternator carbon brushes and copper solenoid starter contacts which are used in about 95% of all Toyota vehicles,note that there is a Honda part # for the alternator carbon brushes as about 50% of all Honda vehicles share the same NipponDenso (now called Denso) alternator with the exception of the pulley which can be swapped.

Toyota alternator carbon brushes with holder: Toyota # 27370-35060=$29

Alternator brush only (qty:1 brush unless otherwise stated): Toyota # 27371-63020=$5.80 (up to 9105) Toyota # 27371-70300=$5.20 (9105-9511) Honda # 31144-PD1-004=$9.72 NipponDenso # 021660-0390 Niehoff # WA571 Borg Warner # X580 Standard # JX-116 Beck Arnley # 178-1669 Ace Electric # DA-61 (brush only),S-5367 (brush holder) Echlin # E601=$8.16/pair (UAP/NAPA) Mileage Plus #E601SB Victory Lap # FAX57=$4.49/pair (Canadian Tire) Canadian Tire # 19-2050-6=$4.49/pair Wilson's Electric # 26-29-7534=$2.20 each (Diesel Auto Electric)(Parts for Trucks,box of 10 for $3.40)

Specifications: Length=15 mm Width=7 mm Thickness=5 mm Lead length=49 mm

Starter copper contacts only: Toyota # 28226-70040 Wilson's Electric # 45-29-652

Starter contact kit (battery side): Toyota # 28226-72080(year:8808-9108) Toyota # 28226-16130(year:9108-9308) Toyota # 28226-55050(year:9308-9511)

Starter contact kit (motor side if needed): Toyota # 28226-72010(year:8808-9511) Toyota # 28226-74070(year:9108-9511)

4 starter repair sites:
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Whether your starter uses two rectangular types or one rectangular and one crescent you can substitute with two squares or one square and one crescent so any of the above part #'s for those kits will be the right ones,or about half of the auto electric shops in your local yellow pages would sell aftermarket contacts for only $5 each or the pair.

Sidney

1985 Toyota 4-Runner,22R-E,W56,rear step/towing factory chrome bumper Electronics Engineering Technician Darmouth,Nova Scotia Canada
Reply to
Sidney

Thanks, everyone for the info. As my truck is now at 155,000 miles, I'm very confident that it's the brushes in the alternator.

Michael.

Reply to
Michael Kucan

Mike, you have an alternator problem. Its a no charge condition. You can replace the brushes in your alternator which is easy to do or replace the entire alt unit itself.

Reply to
MDT Tech®

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