Alternator Issue / Toyota Corolla

[emmuscat]

Hi , So I had a problem with the alternator the battery light on the dashboard kept on after engine running so I removed the alternator and replaced the rectifier and armature . The buld is off now with engine running .But I have another issue when I swith on the key (not with engine running the battery buld is dimmed near the other lights in dashboard . What can cause this problem . Thanks for all the help you can give .

Emmanuel

 

[steppinthrax]

Hi , So I had a problem with the alternator the battery light on the dashboard kept on after engine running so I removed the alternator and replaced the rectifier and armature . The buld is off now with engine running .But I have another issue when I swith on the key (not with engine running the battery buld is dimmed near the other lights in dashboard . What can cause this problem . Thanks for all the help you can give .

Emmanuel

Did you put everything back that way it was after you finished?

Also, is the battery fully charged? You said you replaced the alternator. Possible battery still has low charge.

 

[emmuscat]

Thanks for your reply ,Yes all in place and battery charged engine off 12.5volts with engine running 13.5volts

 

[steppinthrax]

I'm confused as to how the alternator change would have caused an issue with the "low output" from the battery or drain somewhere.

I've replaced the alternator/rectifier on my Camry a few times. As I remember it, the alternator is on top and it's just two connectors. One large connector (bolt on) and another plug type connector.

After that it's done. I'm not sure what else.

Other thing I would check is fuses. Pull one by one and see if any are blown. Possible when doing the alternator you might have blown a fuse if the battery was connected at that time.

 

[emmuscat]

steppinthrax , i replaced the armiture and bearings + rectifier

 

[steppinthrax]

steppinthrax , i replaced the armiture and bearings + rectifier

You had to remove the alternator to get at those things?

 

[emmuscat]

But if a fuse is blown the bulds will not light up in dashboard

 

[emmuscat]

yes of course i removed the alternature

 

[emmuscat]

i will post apicture later to explain better

 

[steppinthrax]

But if a fuse is blown the bulds will not light up in dashboard

When the 5 AMP dome light fuse blows it causes my clock to get read dim???? I thought something was seriously wrong. I replaced it and everything went back to normal?

 

[emmuscat]

Ok will check fuses and keep you informed .Thanks for your help

 

[steppinthrax]

Ok will check fuses and keep you informed .Thanks for your help

Also realize on the Toyota there may be more than 1 fuse box. I have 2/3 under the hood and a box in the car.

 

[emmuscat]

i will check them tomorrow my consern is if it is a fuse ,i think all lights in dashboard are dimmed .

 

[emmuscat]

All fuses are good

 

[pcgeek11]

The dim lights sound more like a grounding issue. Something is leaking to ground when it shouldn't.

These can be very hard to locate. I would double triple check everything in the area where you were working.

 

[emmuscat]

The dimmed battery light go off when engine running .it is only dimmed compared to others in dashboard when only key is turned once .

 

[boomerang]

The dim lights sound more like a grounding issue. Something is leaking to ground when it shouldn't.

These can be very hard to locate. I would double triple check everything in the area where you were working.

Yes, but he's only talking about the one bulb. The bulb that indicates problems with the charging circuit.

That tells us that the problem was caused by the work the OP did. I suspect the rectifier is the problem. Defective out of the box, wrong part for the application or somehow installed incorrectly. Can't say which from here.

 

[emmuscat]

Ok thanks .will try another rectifier

 

[boomerang]

Ok thanks .will try another rectifier

Well, take a close look at the work you performed when taking the alternator apart again. Make sure all the connections are good, that you didn't put an insulating washer somewhere it shouldn't be, etc.

IMO, the bulb is dim because the resistance on the circuit is high. I can't imagine that they are going to take back the rectifier you've already bought so it's in your own best interest to make sure there is nothing else that could be causing this issue. If you disconnected any wire, any connection, you owe it to yourself to make sure that is not the cause of the problem.

Is there a replaceable regulator or is it integrated into the rectifier? I'm asking because I don't know what the ground path for the bulb is. I mentioned the rectifier before because that's the part you said you replaced. The rectifier changes AC current to DC. The regulator controls the rate of charging.

As I said, I don't know the path to ground for the bulb. I would double check all internal connections before replacing anything more.

I like that you repaired instead of replaced. Not too many people do that anymore. Many times, rebuilt alternators can be of far lesser quality than the component you returned as a core.

 

[steppinthrax]

Well, take a close look at the work you performed when taking the alternator apart again. Make sure all the connections are good, that you didn't put an insulating washer somewhere it shouldn't be, etc.

IMO, the bulb is dim because the resistance on the circuit is high. I can't imagine that they are going to take back the rectifier you've already bought so it's in your own best interest to make sure there is nothing else that could be causing this issue. If you disconnected any wire, any connection, you owe it to yourself to make sure that is not the cause of the problem.

Is there a replaceable regulator or is it integrated into the rectifier? I'm asking because I don't know what the ground path for the bulb is. I mentioned the rectifier before because that's the part you said you replaced. The rectifier changes AC current to DC. The regulator controls the rate of charging.

As I said, I don't know the path to ground for the bulb. I would double check all internal connections before replacing anything more.

I like that you repaired instead of replaced. Not too many people do that anymore. Many times, rebuilt alternators can be of far lesser quality than the component you returned as a core.

On the Toyotas the alternator can be torn apart and overhauled very easily. You can even change the bearings. My Camry has about 160k on the original alternator. I've changed the rectifier twice and bearings once. Original stator and field.

The starter motor is the same way.

But I agree. It seems to me something was forgotten or done wrong.

 

[emmuscat]

So after all your help . I went back to the shop where i bouht the rectifier and i was told it is not the same like i had but has different resister . And now the problem is i cannot get one like the one i had but they told me regarding charging the battery there will be no problem .

 

[steppinthrax]

So after all your help . I went back to the shop where i bouht the rectifier and i was told it is not the same like i had but has different resister . And now the problem is i cannot get one like the one i had but they told me regarding charging the battery there will be no problem .

Why????

I guarantee you unless the car was made in the 40s, the rectifier is probably all over eBay.

 

[emmuscat]

Because the old one was put for rycle ��

 

[boomerang]

So after all your help . I went back to the shop where i bouht the rectifier and i was told it is not the same like i had but has different resister . And now the problem is i cannot get one like the one i had but they told me regarding charging the battery there will be no problem .

And I agree. I was going to say this earlier. I understand why it would bug you to have the light on but dim because it would bug me too. But from the perspective of charging, you're good.

 

[emmuscat]

Yes it bug me a lot . Hope i will be able to solve it with some help .maybe i add something to the alternator wiring .any help ��