Alternator Dead? input needed please

Hey all,

My truck wouldnt start this afternoon so I had the wife jump it so I could run some errands. I was thinking it was the battery being that its a few years old and has been through a few AZ summers. At any rate, while I was driving the truck hesitated when I was on the gas and completely died (shut off) momentarily. I was making a turn when this happened and by the time I had completed the turn the truck started again and resumed as normal.

Im no mechanic but I am thinking the alternator is dead which led to the draining of the battery. I know that a dead battery will not kill the truck while driving but I do not know if a bad alternator will do this either.

Can anyone confirm for me that it is the Alternator? If not, possibly something else?

Thank you,

Kris

 

From your description of your problem, the alternator is not the problem. I would say your battery is bad. Get the battery tested and if it is bad, then replace it and then get the whole charging system tested by one of the local parts house.

DO NOT do the old mechanic's tale of removing the positive cable or the negative while the engine is running to see if the engine dies. This old solution does not work on modern engines with computers. You will send a power surge into all the wiring on the truck. Your computer is very sensitive to power fluxuations and it will fry with a surge from removing the ground to the system.

Good Luck.

 

Well thats some good news. If I dont have to take it to the dealership thats even better.

The truck shutting off momentarily while driving is a symptom of a dead battery?

Thanks again!

 

Most repairs can be done by anyone if they have a little bit of common sense and mechanical ability. If your battery is tested and it is good, get it charged by the auto parts store, they usually do it for free, and reinstall the battery and bring the whole truck to the parts house and have them test your charging system. Most will do it for free, and it will tell you if the alternator is the problem, if the battery is good. If the battery is bad, I would still get them to test the charging system to confirm that the battery is your only problem. Good Luck.

 

Well I went to my local auto parts store and determined that the battery was dead so I purchased a new battery.

I also had them check the alternator and they had told me everything looked good (diodes ect) but that the amp output is 81. We looked it up and it appears that my specific truck (2007 tacoma 4x4 w/ tow package) should have a 130 amp alternator..... Ill call Toyota in the morning to verify this but I am wondering, will 81 amps start draining my battery and kill it quickly?

Thanks again,