Parking and Battery Light On

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Mark - 24 Sep 2006 17:21 GMT

I have a '90 4Runner 4x4 with 300,000 miles. While on vacation I
parked the truck in a cool and damp location. Each day when the truck
was first started I nitced that both the parking brake and battery
light would come on along with the battery level meter being in the
lower half to quarter of the operationg range. This would indicate the
charging system is not charging the battery. But I am puzzled as to
why the parking brake light was also on. Also, after driving for just
3-7 minutes the charging system would start working again and would
work for the rest of the day.

This continued on for the week until it came time to make the trip
home. That morning the charging failed to kick in until after a couple
of hours. It works fine while at home, since it is stored in a dry
garage.

I suspect there is a bad connection where moisture is condesing and is
opening the circuit. After awhile it dries out and all is well. The
question I have is what areas can the home mechanic check before
taking it in to the shop? Do the parking and battery light being on
point to a speciific component or area?

Thanks in advance,
Mark

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Bruce L. Bergman - 24 Sep 2006 23:40 GMT

>I have a '90 4Runner 4x4 with 300,000 miles. While on vacation I
>parked the truck in a cool and damp location. Each day when the truck
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>taking it in to the shop? Do the parking and battery light being on
>point to a speciific component or area?

It's a quirk in the wiring, the lights all come on at once.

More than likely the brushes in the alternator are just worn out,
and for a while they would warm up and just make contact with the
rotor field slip rings - but that only lasts a few days.

Get that alternator rebuilt, or exchange it for a factory rebuild.
If money is tight you can get the parts and do it yourself.

--<< Bruce >>--

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sidneybek@yahoo.com - 25 Sep 2006 01:16 GMT

If the brake and charge lights come on during revving of the engine
then it's a sign that the carbon alternator brushes require replacing
as this is the mileage for them to wear out. 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.

Another way to verify that the alternator is not charging is while the
engine is running bring a metal screwdriver or any metal object near
the alternator and if the alternator is working properly then it should
act like a magnet and grab the screwdriver.

For carbon brushes R&R:

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/alternator_brushes
http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/88/alternatorbrushes.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/adherence.4x4/alternateur_kzj.htm
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=166525
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=27270&forumid=10
http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=26734&highlight=altern
ator+brush+holder
http://www.bitwalla.com/cruisers/articles/alternator.html
http://www.barneymc.com/toy_root/techtalk/electric/altrnatr.htm

For decoding the dashboard lights:

http://www.powerbase-auto.co.uk/alternator_faults.htm
http://members.1stconnect.com/anozira/SiteTops/energy/Alternator/alternator.htm

Here are part #'s for Toyota alternator carbon brushes and copper
solenoid starter contacts which are used in about 95% of all Toyota
vehicles.

Toyota alternator Brushes with holder:

Toyota # 27370-35060=$29 CDN
Honda # 31105-PZ1-003
Metro # 39-82003 (www.metroautoinc.com ,Pomona,California)
Unknown brand name # F4019-53035

Alternator brush only (qty:1 brush unless otherwise stated):

AC Delco # E724
AC Delco # E731 (side wire and concave tip)
Ace Electric # DA-61 (brush only),S-5367 (brush holder)
Beck Arnley # 178-1669 (side wire and concave tip)
Beck Arnley # 178-1376
Borg Warner # X580 (side wire and concave tip)
Canadian Tire # 19-2050-6=$4.49/pair
Daihatsu # 27370-87302-000
Daihatsu # 27371-63020-000
Daihatsu # 27371-87501-000
Daihatsu # 27371-70300-000
Echlin # E601=$8.16 CDN/pair (UAP/NAPA)
Echlin # ECHE601
Echlin # EC480
Echlin # ECHE480
GP Sorensen # 255047 (side wire and concave tip)
GM # 94123056
GM # 96054118
Honda # 31144-PD1-004=$9.72
Honda # 31144-PD1-0040
Honda # 31144-PD1-0030
Honda # 31150-PR7-A01
Honda # 31150-PTO-003
Hino Industries # 021660-0390
Hino Industries # 021660-0510
Isuzu # 8-94123-056-0
Isuzu # 8-97032-308-0
Isuzu # 8-97032-310-0
Mazda # 021660-0390
Mazda # 021660-0510
Mazda # KL47-18-W75
Metro # 38-82001(side wire concave tip) (www.metroautoinc.com
,Pomona,California)
Mileage Plus # E601SB
Mitsubishi # MD604474
Mitsubishi # 21660-0510
Niehoff # WA571 (side wire and concave tip)
NipponDenso # 021660-0390
NipponDenso # 021660-0510
Standard # JX-116 (side wire and concave tip)
Subaru # 021660-0390
Subaru # 021660-0510
Suzuki # 31631-82610
Suzuki # 31656-82611
Suzuki # 021660-0510
Toyota # 27370-42010
Toyota # 27370-75060
Toyota # 27371-63020=$5.80 (up to 9105) (side wire and concave tip)
Toyota # 27371-70300=$5.20 (9105-9511)
Toyota # 27371-76004-71
UAP/NAPA # MPEE601SB
Victory Lap # FAX57=$4.49 CDN/pair (Canadian Tire)
Wilson's Electric # 26-29-7534 (side wire and concave tip)=$2.20 each
CDN (Diesel Auto Electric)(Parts for Trucks,box of 10 for $3.40 CDN)

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

These Honda alternators are the same except the pulley must be swapped:

1986-89 Honda Accord (Carb),the EFI can be used but the voltage reg
must be swapped
1990-93 Acura Integra

For alternator upgrade:

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/100alt/index.html
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/alternator
http://home.earthlink.net/~twopapa/bigalt.htm

19 Toyota (NipponDenso now called Denso) starter repair sites:

http://www.off-road.com/4x4web/toyota/tech/starter/ -
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.shtml
http://char.tuiasi.ro/vw/reality/rogerb/4x4/CheapTricks/Starter.html
http://yotarepair.com/startercontacts.html
http://www.toyotaoffroad.net/afertig/88/starterrepair.htm
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/starter
http://www.yotatech.com/~corey/tech/haveblue_starter/haveblue.htm
http://www.sleeoffroad.com/technical/tz_starter_rebuild.htm
http://www.startercontacts.com/install.htm
http://www.startercontacts.com/images/OSGR_Exploded_view.jpg
http://www.colorado4x4.net/tech/starter_contacts/starter_contacts.html
http://www.barneymc.com/toy_root/techneek/starter.htm
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/adherence.4x4/start_bj.htm
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=166530
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=27312&forumid=10
http://www.toyotanation.com/showthread.php?threadid=27312&forumid=10
http://www.toyotaoffroad.com/Articles/Projects/starter/starter.htm
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/boophoenix/starter.html
http://www.tacomaterritory.com/boophoenix/starter/image01.jpg

Starter contact kits (8mm ID hole):

Ace Electric # S-5263 (only two contacts)
Ace Electric # S-5264 (only two contacts)
Metro # 66-82104 (only two contacts) (www.metroautoinc.com
,Pomona,California)
Toyota # 28226-72010/80 (battery side)(also1KZTE-2LT-1KZT)
Toyota # 28226-72080 (8808-9108)
Toyota # 28226-16130 (9108-9308)
Toyota # 28226-55050 (9308-9511)
Toyota # 28226-70040 (9308-9511)
Toyota # 28226-72040 (motor side if needed)
Toyota # 28226-72010 (8808-9511)
Toyota # 28226-74070 (9108-9511) (2000 Tundra & others)
Toyota # 28226-22050 (2000 Tundra & others)
Toyota # 28226-66060 (1993-1997 Land Cruiser 2.0 KW starters)

For others besides 22R series:

Toyota # 28226-54220 (motor side) (2LTE, 3L..LN13# IKZTE, 2L#,
KZN130,LN108,112,85..4FC)
Toyota # 28226-54250 (Diesel Surf 2.4TD, contains a new end cover and
gasket)
Toyota # 28226-54320 (battery side) (2LTE, 3L..LN13# IKZTE, 2L#,
KZN130, LN108,112,85..4FC,3B-1HZ-BJ73-HZJ7#-1KZT-KZJ70)
Toyota # 28226-17030 (battery side) (1H#-HDJ80-HZJ80)
Toyota # 28226-56250 (battery side) (3B-1HZ-1PZ-PZJ7#)

Starter contacts only (8mm ID hole):

Ace Electric # S-5231
Ace Electric # S-5293 (crescent moon shape)
Ace Electric # S-5295 (crescent moon shape)
Metro # 66-82106 (www.metroautoinc.com ,Pomona,California)
Tons more at:
http://www.metroautoinc.com/PDF%20File/66-Denso%20Solenoid%20Contact.pdf
Toyota # 28226-70040
Wilson's Electric # 45-29-652 (maybe it's 45-29-6521)

Starter brushes:

AC Delco # D762
GP Sorensen # 255048
Standard # JX-117

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®
Repairs tv's,vcr's,home/car audio out of my home
E-mail:sidneybek@yahoo.com
Dartmouth,Nova Scotia
Canada
1985 Toyota 4-Runner,solid front straight axle,factory cruise
control,sunroof,22R-E,W56,RN60LV-MSEK,rusted rear step/towing chrome
bumper with 251 000 KM

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Jarhead - 28 Sep 2006 15:23 GMT

| I have a '90 4Runner 4x4 with 300,000 miles. While on vacation I
| parked the truck in a cool and damp location. Each day when the truck
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
| Thanks in advance,
| Mark

On my 1987 it turned out to be the alternator. It would charge at a
constant 15 vdc but the two lights stayed on when I replaced them after
buying the truck. I took it to a shop that specializes in
starter/alternator and batteries and he said it checked out okay. ( I
found out later that his bench check did not test the charging light
circuit.) The alternator has a light signal terminal that sends a
voltage to the instrument cluster.

A couple of years later when the voltage increased to almost 16 vdc I
replaced the alternator, put the bulbs back in and the problem was
solved.

In my case it may have been the wrong alternater was installed before I
bought the truck. NAPA showed two different part #s that changed with
the VIN #.

Signature

Jarhead

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