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Check Charging Light while driving and truck runs fine

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by BennysTaco, Jul 24, 2018.

  1. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:30 PM
    #1
    BennysTaco

    BennysTaco [OP] Member

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    Just like the title says, my check charging system light came on today while I was driving. Truck starts fine, runs fine, all lights appear to be on full and not dimmed. Light turns off for a brief moment when accelerating from stop but comes right back on. Drove the truck almost 45 minutes home with no other issues than the warning light. I'm assuming it's the alternator but is there any chance it's the battery? I put an old volt meter on the battery both sitting and idle and off and it has the same reading. Old being the key word because the actual writing is missing to tell the voltage, the needle just goes to the same spot. Any thoughts other than taking it to the dealer? My truck is pretty much void of all warranties at this point. Thanks
     
  2. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:33 PM
    #2
    20tacoma17

    20tacoma17 Well-Known Member

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    Have a volt meter? Check voltage at battery both off and running. Also check battery connections. Place to start anyway.
     
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  3. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:38 PM
    #3
    Cthudak

    Cthudak Well-Known Member

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    Your picture shows 2017....why is it void of all warranties?
     
  4. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:39 PM
    #4
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    Could have been a hickup, or an overheating battery.

    I would go to a parts store and have them do a quick AVR test to see how the battery and charging system is.

    Also, wiggle your battery terminals to make sure they are snug.
     
    BennysTaco[OP] likes this.
  5. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:42 PM
    #5
    daddy_o

    daddy_o Well-Known Member

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    Factory Blackout package, Soft roll up bed cover, Cheap seat covers, Front and rear dash cam, AVS in channel vent visors
    Autozone or similar will do a load test on the battery. You need to get a voltmeter you can read to know what is happening. Have you been under the hood recently doing some mods?
     
    shakerhood and BennysTaco[OP] like this.
  6. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:55 PM
    #6
    mutely

    mutely Well-Known Member

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    You need to check while running and NOT idle. Idle will barely charge anything so you won’t see much change in voltage between off and idle. Alternator connections then battery connections would be the first check before actually testing the alternator and battery, since you can do those checks at home without any special equipment.
     
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  7. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:56 PM
    #7
    BennysTaco

    BennysTaco [OP] Member

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    Yea just a few mods lol. It's gotten enough water around the engine Toyota just laughs when I take it to them and ask if broken things are covered. Something about improper use and abuse. I always argue that its a Tacoma but no dealer wants to hear it. Definitely need to get to a parts store

    20170718171710_IMG_0110.jpg
     
  8. Jul 24, 2018 at 6:58 PM
    #8
    BennysTaco

    BennysTaco [OP] Member

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    Thanks! Gonna go out and try that now
     
  9. Jul 24, 2018 at 7:00 PM
    #9
    20tacoma17

    20tacoma17 Well-Known Member

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    Forgot to include "not at idle" good catch.
     
  10. Jul 24, 2018 at 7:00 PM
    #10
    BennysTaco

    BennysTaco [OP] Member

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    Positive had a lot of that blueish green crap around the terminal. Cleaned it off but that didn't help anything. Makes me lean more towards a battery problem. I just only got money for one or the other until payday next week so have 1 shot at this lol
     
  11. Jul 24, 2018 at 7:04 PM
    #11
    20tacoma17

    20tacoma17 Well-Known Member

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    Did you remove the cables and clean inside the connections? Also check to make sure wires at the battery connections didn't start to eat the wires.
     
  12. Jul 24, 2018 at 7:21 PM
    #12
    daddy_o

    daddy_o Well-Known Member

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    Are the connections secure. Most of the time you get the "blueish green crap" from a loose connection. Clean the post and the connector and make sure its nice and tight. If for some reason it is not getting tight, they make a battery post shim. I had to use them on my wifes Honda odyssey, worked out real well for that.
     
  13. Jul 24, 2018 at 7:33 PM
    #13
    mutely

    mutely Well-Known Member

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    That green crap is corrosion, be very careful. If you have it, you need to remove the connector and clean the inside, as that shit is under the connector. If it was bad, then *might* have started to corrode the copper cable under the plastic shielding, that would definitely cause your charging problem. You can get battery terminal cleaner that usually works quite well, but plane tap water mixed with baking soda works just as well, and neutralizes the corrosion (if you have baking soda in your kitchen). That shit will come back if you don’t clean it like cleaning a STD surgically....:). So take your time.

    If it has started to eat at the wire, you have two options. Replace the harness (very expensive I’m sure). Cut the cable behind the corrosion and splice in a new piece of cable & terminal clamp. I’m sure no dealer will do the latter, but there are good kits on the market for that, just not very common, so probably an internet buy rather than local auto shop.
     
  14. Jul 24, 2018 at 7:42 PM
    #14
    BennysTaco

    BennysTaco [OP] Member

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    Thanks guys. Going to wait til the sun comes back up to take a better look. I do know the winch went on last week and the corrosion definitely wasn't there so it's pretty fresh. This is going to be fun. Thanks for all the help!
     

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