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Alternator Toast

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by Barnacules, Dec 24, 2005.

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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    Alternator Toast

    Well as you guys all know I've been kicking my ass for the last 3 weeks working on this damn Turbo on my 2001 Toyota Corolla with nothing but problems. Finally got everything done and finished installing the 250lph Walbro fuel pump and everything was doing great and the car was running pretty good considering it was tuned super rich and we finally get ready to pull it out of the garage after I turn on the head lights and everything dies. The car won't start "Click, click click". We drop another battery in it and it starts up again but the alternator is only raising the voltage at the battery terminals by 0.01 of a volt. WTF! My alternator died. My turbo timer / volt meter is blinking at me telling me that the charging system is shot. OMG! Could have worse luck. So I guess I need to take off the alternator on monday and take it down to have it tested. ARG! Does anyone have any other ideas of what it might be? Who knows how long the charging system has been dead because I have a gel cell battery that will run the car for a few hours before it gets down to 10 volts and starts tripping.
    Barnacules, Dec 24, 2005
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    1337Rolla oh my

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    dang that sucks!

    if you start getting CEL's let me know because I have a computer for that:D
    It can't do any tuning, but it'll show you the sensor outputs.
    1337Rolla, Dec 24, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    I've got plenty of cell's :) I just need to hook up my OBD-II scan tool to check them out but I haven't really got to a point where I want to check them yet ;)
    Barnacules, Dec 24, 2005
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    1337Rolla oh my

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    guess it's just rotten timing, run to schucks quick quick! :p
    1337Rolla, Dec 24, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    I'll take the alternator down to the parts store tomorrow and get it tested. I kind of hope that is the problem because otherwise I'm stumped.
    Barnacules, Dec 25, 2005
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    toyotaspeed90 New Member

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    take the alternator to schucks to have it checked.

    there's a chance that somewhere in the wiring you pulled a wire that's connected to the regulator, and the alternator isn't turning on.
    toyotaspeed90, Dec 26, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    Okay its confirmed, the alternator is smoked. The generator wire detached from the battery is reading 1 volt when the car is running. What the hell caused this to happen? Anyways the auto parts store wants $250 + core for a new alternator, OMG! I'm going to shoot my car. Anyone know where I can pick up an alternator cheaper then that?
    Barnacules, Dec 28, 2005
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    DeebsTundra Big Tires :)

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    $250 ??? :confused: :confused: :confused:
    I used to fuse bearings together every other month on my Grand Prix (Too high a load on the alternator due to my capacitorless sound system.) And for a 120amp alternator it only cost me...$140 + core.
    Are you using a high amp brand new alternator, or just a stock size rebuilt?
    DeebsTundra, Dec 28, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    Its just a stock alternator that came with the 2001 Toyota Corolla. Do you know of any place that would sell me a 120amp alternator for my car? I think the stock is 80amp and I too run audio and lots of power hogging goodies and think if I have to replace it I might as well get something better.

    Well I just took the alternator out and when my wife gets home I'll take her truck down to the auto parts store to have the alternator tested. If it tests bad then I'll have to buy a new one but if it tests good then I've got something fudged up with the electrical system.

    Is it possible that my car killed the alternator? I find it wired that it died shortly after installing the emanage? Are alternators sensitive?

    Okay, I took the alternator down to be tested and it tests good. and I took my battery down and it tests better then good? WTF. For some reason on there test machine my alternator puts out 13.5v at idle but in my car it puts out less then 1v? Could someone please tell me what the 3 wires on the harness plug going into the alternator do? I'm thinking something in my cars wiring got screwed up and its telling my alternator not to charge for some stupid ass reason. I'm going insane here :)
    Barnacules, Dec 28, 2005
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    toyotaspeed90 New Member

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    at partsamerica.com (which is the online version of schucks) an Autolite with a lifetime warranty is $129 + $45 core
    toyotaspeed90, Dec 28, 2005
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    1337Rolla oh my

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    Blue-Green wire goes to the 50A fuse (AM1) then to (+) terminal of battery
    white wire goes to 5A fuse then to battery (+)
    Red- Yellow? Wire goes to the integration relay. <-- tells alternator to work


    If all those wires check out I'd check if the integration relay is getting power.
    1337Rolla, Dec 28, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    Sweet, so the red-yellow wire should be reading power when the car is running to tell the alternator to work right? I think that might be the problem.
    Barnacules, Dec 29, 2005
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    toyotaspeed90 New Member

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    to be 100% honest.... if it were me (because mechanical work is 10X easier than wiring work, though wiring work isn't too tough) I would pull the alternator and have it bench tested.... .that's the quickest/easiest way to tell... if it passes then start to look for wiring, if it fails, then it's obviously just an atlernator
    toyotaspeed90, Dec 29, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    The alternator already passed a bench test and so did the battery. the problem is that the alternator is not getting activated probably because something screwed up with that wire. I'm going to investigate tomorrow.
    Barnacules, Dec 29, 2005
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    1337Rolla oh my

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    could be. if not, I was thinking maybe the integration relay isn't getting power. that may explain the car dying when you turned on the headlights. also the door locks, dash lights wouldn't work if the integration relay has no power.

    if all that checks out ok, maybe the 'engine on' signal to the integration relay wire is screwed.:shutup:
    1337Rolla, Dec 29, 2005
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    Barnacules 100101101011011

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    Wow, thanks for the info, come to think of it my guages aren't working right now :) The guage lights on are but not the guages themselves. I've got some wiring crap to track down ;)
    Barnacules, Dec 29, 2005
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    Rolla95 Rollin' Out y0

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    it coulda been a bad connection on the battery, mine did the same thing, would start up then i would turn on my headlights and the car would die
    Rolla95, Dec 29, 2005
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