I just bought my first toyota and I love the truck! I have a problem with the alternator not charging though. I recently purchased a new alternator and regulator and changed them out with no success. I took it into the parts store and had it tested and it passed all tests with flying colors. Ive been racking my poor little brain as to what to try next. If anyone has an idea please help me out.

 

check your fuse links ... right off of the positive battery posts w/green connectors .. give them a "tug" if they break there toast . These are the main engine "fueses" for this year , but in wire form



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Turns out that the wiring going to the battery is solid. I tested the output from the alternator and no juice... The only thing that I am getting is voltage from the battery. Does the ignition switch or alt charge light have anything to do with charging?

 

but you said it was an NEW alt , and it tested fine ?

brushes are VERY common on these units .. which is indicated by the "charge lamp " .. either sticking , or worn .


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Yep I took it back out after it did'nt work the first time and they tested it on their machine. The alt light doesnt even flicker (I did check the bulb.) Wiring drives me crazy! The wires and plugs going to the regulator seem to be intact also. Hmmm....

 

I've had this problem in the past. If your sure that the alternator is putting out the correct voltage (normally 14.7v), chances are your charge lamp relay is bad. If your charge light stays on after starting your truck and a meter says it's actually charging then on the right side cab wall under the glove compartment is a green relay bolted to the wall just in front of the passenger door. Unplug it and the light goes out. Replacing them is terribly expensive,($70 +) . I just trust my gages and do without the relay. Fred

 

The Light doesnt work at all... i can check that relay. The alternator charges when its hooked up to the testing machine but not in the truck Do you know if there are more fusable links along under the dash? I think my only option is to rewire it... but im trying to avoid that... lol!

 

Check the grounds off the alternator

 

The grounds from the 3 prong F-E-N plug are good and no broken wires or loose connections. I cleaned the plugs and connectors already. Does the alt have to have a 'return' wire to make it charge? How do I go about looking for this?

 

I am having the excact same problem. I'm gonna switch out the regulator and see if that helps. Good luck. Hope u find the problem cause it would help me too. Haha

 

 

Question- Have you confirmed it is not charging or is it just the fact the lights are on?

(Not to be a jerk, i've been down this road too)

 

The alt lights on the dash do not work at all... and the alternator does not charge while in the truck and connected. It does charge while hooked up to the testing machine at the shop though. I am very greatful for any help.

 

got to be something telling the alternator not to charge. Figuring out what that is is going to be the problem

Sorry can't help much not good with wiring

 

Hmmm... I just removed a little green box from the driver's side under the dash that had a 7 pin square plug... sounds like there are several things broken inside the box... maybe something! It says emission control on it and it sounds like there are about half a dozen pieces of something inside when i shake it. (HOPEHOPEHOPE)

 

Your truck should run with you that. So if you can idle with in.. than unplug it, your truck should die and the part is some what working.

 

any luck? I have a new Alt, new voltage reg, and new batt. But still no charge. i have a 1980 with the 20R.

 

might be time to do the chevy swap. I know that one of the ground has to be grounded to the engine or it will not charge. theres a guy on here who sell the brackets for the chevy alt, and there soo much easyer to work with.

 

well someday I'm going to throw in a 3rz but right now I just wanna atleast drive it around. What I need is somone who has the same truck that works properly so I could take a look at the wires. Previous owners changed the wires so I don't know what it supposed to look like.

 

This seems to be an common issue. When this happened with my truck, I couldn't figure it out, so I took it to a friend. We replaced the alt., the charge lamp relay, and regulator, and no luck, so he put in an one wire alternator, not a stock one... it has worked great for a year +. (but the charge light will not work)