Alternator dead???

[raddys]

Hi guys

Was driving the supra a few weeks ago and I got an engine error code flash up, I turned the car off and back on and it was gone, it came back on the next time I drove it after a few miles driving but I haven't had a chance to take it in and get the code read.

Then I parked it up for 15 mins and come back and it wouldnt start, the battery is indicating it needs charging yet is only 5 months old and I've only done around 300-400 miles on the new battery.

I'm pretty sure my alternator is done and dusted but just wanted to check if anyone has had a similar experience which proved to not be an alternator?

Thanks, Grant

[coza]

Hi mate when my alternator was on the way out when I was driving the battery warning light would come on then go away with a few others that was the sign I got of it failing.

 

Hi guys

Was driving the supra a few weeks ago and I got an engine error code flash up, I turned the car off and back on and it was gone, it came back on the next time I drove it after a few miles driving but I haven't had a chance to take it in and get the code read.

Then I parked it up for 15 mins and come back and it wouldnt start, the battery is indicating it needs charging yet is only 5 months old and I've only done around 300-400 miles on the new battery.

I'm pretty sure my alternator is done and dusted but just wanted to check if anyone has had a similar experience which proved to not be an alternator?

Thanks, Grant

[Style]

Doesn't sound like it's the case but just it's an easy check so I'll chime in.

 

Check the fuses in the drivers footwell, I can't remember which one it is but there's a 10A fuse for the dials etc that also ties into the alternator circuit and it won't charge the battery if that circuit is broken.

 

I switched out a fully working alternator for another one for no reason because of this

[Chris Wilson]

Just put a multimeter on the battery terminals and at a fast idle with as many heavy draw electronics turned on as possible you should see at least 13.8 volts. Alternators are now an Achilles heel as they get old. Leaking water pumps often see them off...

[kslb]

ctek mxs 5.0 test and charge or something similar is an easy way to test the alternator, battery and starter and also keep the battery in good shape if you are not using it much. I thought my alternator was on its way out but was a dodgy battery, not that old.

[raddys]

Cheers lads will do this asap

[Chris Wilson]

Car batteries, especially modern ones with as little lead in them as the manufacturers can get away with, do not like being totally, or near totally discharged, the plates sulphate like hell. They are not deep discharge batteries which are specialist things. I see new batteries dead within weeks if allowed to completely discharge and then jump started and have 60 Amps rammed into them. They need to be kept topped up, which is not always easy if you don't use the car regularly. They also don't like frost for whatever reason, so if the car is in storage best to take the battery out and put it on a "clever" trickle charger. I had a few customers buy solar panels for this, and tested one. It struggled to give 1.5 Amps on a bright July day, with the panel orientated for best solar capture. in other words it was a bit of a joke! Good batteries ain't cheap, they need a bit of mollycoddling. They also fetch bugger all weighed in so best to look after them.