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tightened loose alternator belt, now have "discharge warning light"?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by VermonTacoma, Feb 1, 2009.

  1. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:07 AM
    #1
    VermonTacoma

    VermonTacoma [OP] New Member

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    howdy ya'll...this is my first post and I'm glad to be a new member. The dealer I bought the truck from put an undersized batt. in it along with a block of 2x4 to keep it snug(yeah...you heard me right!) Sure enough on the way home the block came loose and wedged itself in my cooling fan! The dash lights blew out and I headed back to the dealer and dropped it off to have the fan replaced. Afterwards my dash lights wouldn't work and kept blowing fuses. The other day my alternator belt started squealing...loose belt, simple enough. However, after I tightened her up, I got a "discharge warning light" on the dash and my fuel pump started quitting on me especially going uphill or stepping on the gas(truck idles fine, bucks + hesitates when driving). I'm taking the alt. and Batt. to get tested momemtarily. I've replaced fuel filter, cleaned plugs, removed and tested the wiring harness and all grounds and connections. I'm guessing it's the voltage regulator in the alt. but if anyone has had this experience in the past and feels like chiming in it would be greatly appreciated! -Thanks, Lewis

    p.s: the dealer went under so Im on my own! :(
     
  2. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:15 AM
    #2
    Camppentaco

    Camppentaco Mommy says I'm special

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    Holy crap... Wonder why he dealer went under?

    Welcome, I'm sure someone on here knows exactly what is wrong. I'm not too familiar with the first gens.
     
  3. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:19 AM
    #3
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Im stumped. Dash lights AND fuel pump cutting out? The voltage reg. IS on the alternator, cant hurt to check it out.
     
  4. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM
    #4
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    lmao!!!
     
  5. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:22 AM
    #5
    TRD4x4858

    TRD4x4858 Taco Traitor!

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    Its probably the voltage regulator gone bad, making all kinds of trouble
     
  6. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:23 AM
    #6
    Delmarva

    Delmarva Mayor of TW

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    It's the wife's T4R so it's stock
    wowzas...
     
  7. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:24 AM
    #7
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Thast my guess too, but its strange the dash lights AND fuel pump to be screwing up isnt indicative of a bad voltage reg. Thats what puzzles me. Almost sounds like a connection is loose somewhere. :confused:
     
  8. Feb 1, 2009 at 11:26 AM
    #8
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    OK! Phanotom, you sparked my brain to fire up........If the bearings are bad in the alt. it will give a bad output also.
     
  9. Feb 1, 2009 at 12:12 PM
    #9
    TRD4x4858

    TRD4x4858 Taco Traitor!

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    A sudden drop in alternator output could cause a fuel pump "cutout" because its actual voltage dropping and vehicle about to stall, voltage dropping could shoot all warning lights on, low voltage signals
     
  10. Feb 1, 2009 at 1:50 PM
    #10
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    But its not going to go lower than the curant battery out put. So the cutting of the fuel pump is odd......Until I thought What Phantom just posted

     
  11. Feb 2, 2009 at 6:38 AM
    #11
    EnolaGaia

    EnolaGaia Well-Known Member

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    Beyond 'universal' battery and alternator possibilities, it's hard to troubleshoot these symptoms without knowing the model year of the Tacoma.
     
  12. Feb 2, 2009 at 6:41 AM
    #12
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    1995 Tacoma Its in his "Info".
     
  13. Feb 2, 2009 at 8:54 AM
    #13
    VermonTacoma

    VermonTacoma [OP] New Member

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    This forum blows the others out of the water! Advance Auto parts put the alt. on the machine and got 11V and a faulty diode light...hmmm? At home I took her apart and ohmed out the rectifier...checking both the positive and negative rectifier diodes to ensure "one-way" continuity. They all failed. upon closer inspection it lookes like they're burnt up...no big deal, found replacement for $30.
    What's the best way to test the voltage regulator as I'm betting it got smoked too? My Haynes manual says to "ground terminal 'F' with engine running then check batt voltage ..if higher-replace regulator, if lower-check alternator. Do I need to replace the the rectifier before I can do this test acurately? ...or should I assume the voltage reg. is bad too and order em' both right now? -Thanks, Lewis
     
  14. Feb 2, 2009 at 8:57 AM
    #14
    VermonTacoma

    VermonTacoma [OP] New Member

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    hehehe..waka waka waka!
     
  15. Feb 2, 2009 at 11:15 AM
    #15
    VermonTacoma

    VermonTacoma [OP] New Member

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    thats what im thinkin' too...any idea how one would go about testing the voltage reg.?
     
  16. Feb 2, 2009 at 4:37 PM
    #16
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    I have always just connected a multi meter (set to 20 DC volts) to the battery. At Idle, it should read the current batt. voltage, then I would rev it up, and monitor the voltage. Around 1200 rpm, it should be 13.8 volts, and it should stay pretty close to that all the way up. If the voltage keeps climbing, the regulator is bad.
     

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