My battery light just came on in my 4 cylinder 2005? Starts and runs fine. Any sugges

My battery light just came on in my 2005 4 cylinder Tacoma. Any suggestions? Starts and runs fine. Belt on.

 

Time for a new battery? They usually last about 5 to 6 years before they no longer can hold a charge.

 

Advanced auto? lol..

Take it to a professional Toyota Tech - give that truck some love!

 

Ya your alternator prob died. First though check your battery connections to make sure they aren't loose or corroded. If not, measure the voltage with truck running. If it isn't over 13.5 volts (ideally closer to 14 or more) then your alternator is likely toast and you're running on your battery alone.

GL!

 

Because the kids at the Toyota dealership know best......... silly moderator

 

Been a member since 2008, you should know better

^This

 

For a alternator or battery? If you go to the dealer bring 2 things...plenty of money and a good supply of lube.

 

I was a Toyota Master Tech and did HONEST work. The pro's get paid for a reason; because they are good at what they do.

I am all for do-it-yourself labor, but if you have to ask what to do when an alternator light comes on, it's over your head.

Suggesting Advanced Auto to even breath on your truck is simply ridiculous.

 

FTFY


Anyone can hook up an multi meter even if they don't know what an alternator is. We can walk OP through this simple test without him wasting $90 and hours of his time let alone break down on his way to the dealership.

 

The only good way to test the battery and charging system is with a load tester. A multimeter will give you a voltage reading, but doesn't supply the load test. There is nothing wrong with Advance Auto or the dealer testing. Your truck your choice.

 

im with the ppl for the local autozone free testing, there, as suppose to the same test at a dealership kinda no brainer

 

It's recommended you replace your battery annually, though nobody does it.

 

Really? News to me.

 

Agreed.

I'm an appliance repair tech. Every day it's the same sad song...."WTF, I could have bought that part on Ebay for 1/3 what you charge and put it in myself. It's only ten screws!"

I always respond the same way...something like this:"Yes sir, I don't doubt that you could do that, but you didn't, you hired me to do it for you. If you want me to do it for you, you have to pay for the training I have invested in to learn how to do this quickly, accurately, and be able to stand behind my diagnosis and warranty my work. You have to pay for my expenses to maintain an office, dispatcher, parts inventory, liability insurance, a running service vehicle, etc."

The reality is that some folks know how to do things themselves and save a ton of money. Good for them. Then there are folks that are willing to learn. That's good for them if they have the patience and money to spend to screw up a few times and learn from their mistakes. The rest of the folks are better off in the long run spending the money for a proper diagnosis and repair that comes with a guarantee.

And yes, I know there are dishonest, incompetent people in the automotive business, and in the appliance repair business. There are also dishonest, incompetent people in the real estate business, there are dishonest doctors and lawyers too.

As far as cars go, either learn to be completely self sufficient and do every single thing yourself, or find someone you can trust and build a relationship with them, it will pay off someday when you are over your head and need your vehicle fixed so you can get yourself to work the next day.

OP, I have worked autoparts before. The charging system tests that the parts stores offer for free are a quick way to rule out a simple battery problem and identify if the alternator is charging or not. But be aware, if you take the truck to a shop afterwards and tell them to change the alternator and not to charge you for a diagnosis, then they will do just that. If you are wrong, and there is something else wrong, you are stuck with the parts and labor to install that alternator. Pay the diagnostic, then it's the shop's problem if they are wrong.

 

Well said, I can't count how many times a vehicle has come in where the customer has "diagnosed" the problem them self and want us to change parts. Most of them are not very happy when they get billed labour and their vehicle still has the same problem. My favorite is "I read on a forum.."

 

The solution is to find a GOOD RELIABLE technician. Yes, there is way more to a charging system test than testing the output voltage!

Current under a load, regulator voltage, voltage drop testing, and oscilliscope testing for ripples needs to be done also in order to properly determine the issue.