How to: Change the alternator on a 2nd gen Tacoma.

Anyone got pics of a 4 cylinder.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyNlteE7vW0

 

Oops. Double post.

 

How many bolts ? 2 or 3

 

Beats me. I have a V6. Just trying to help.

2, I believe.

Search for "2TR-FE Charging"
http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old/files/05FSM/repair.html

 

Welp, tried to do this myself on a 08 4.0L prerunner 2wd with 1GRFE engine. There is no way to get the alt out the top without removing the battey cable wire harness and that bracket on the side of the engine block (the one you have to remove to pull the sparkplugs). All the videos i watched showed the tensioner pully on the passenger side of the fan,on mine it was the one right next to the alternator. Plus looked like a bitch to get out from bottom after taking off the skidplate so i probably would have had to take it out through the wheel well. Decided to just take it to the local shop and have them do it for $81.00. Autozone 130amp tow package alternator was 127.00 and 80 to put the new one in. Too much hassle, that alternator is too deep for me. Lol. My alt worked, but had the notorious diode whine that follows the rpms. 200 well spent. Woulda taken me hours. Took the mechanic 1 hour.

 

You didn't try hard enough. It definitely can be taken out the top. If you watched videos of Tacomas with 1grfe it's the same as yours.

 

I, also, found it quite a hassle to take it out the top. Path of least resistance was through the driver-side wheel wheel. Came out easy once the 5 or so plastic clips and the rubber skirt is removed. Didn't have to remove tire either.

 

Just got my alternator out of my '07 OR. Thanks to all who contributed this thread! I was up top, down below w the skid plate off...success in getting it out. Hopefully equal success in getting the new one in tomorrow....

 

A week later than planned but I was successful in getting the alternator in. Can't remember if it been posted here but when you get the top mounting bolt snugged but not torqued down, you can then pivot the alternator to get the bottom bolt in. Not as much as a pain in the ass as it looks. Thanks again folks! Side note, not bad to get 351k miles out of the original

 

Mine just died at 102k. It wines like crazy. Gonna go back with a bigger towing package alternator this time over the 100amp. Started to start little slugish. And I put a volt meter on it and it was 11.6v. Now I have a charger on it and hopefully it will charge the battery so I can get to the store.

 

Sounds like the diodes are capping out. Can be fixed
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-1grfe-alternator-rebuild-mud-cleanout.453757/

 

I just did mine. I pulled the fan and shroud. It wasn't that big of a deal. Just removing the fan was a little pain in the ass. I bought a re-manufactured alternator for 145 and I think the dealer wanted 650 to do the job. I hope this one will last as long as the original, I have 156,000 miles on it as of now.

 

Is it possible to tell which alternator you have without removing it? I have a 120A fuse in the alternator fuse spot.

 

Sub'd

 

Mine just died. 156K.
Nearly stranded on the FWY, but managed to pull off and called AAA. Need to take care of this today.
First my Bluetooth stopped picking up my phone, radio doesn't turn on, dash lights all started to come on one by one... and flicker.
I was losing power and couldn't accelerate hard, all while moving at 30+ MPH.

 

This is why I installed a digital voltage readout. Didn't have one in my last truck and had a similar experience I dont want to repeat. Now I should be able to see a drop in output when the alternator gets old as well as battery voltage before engine start.

 

Quick question, will an alternator from a 2015 Tacoma work in a 2006 Tacoma?

 

If your eyes are good enough and you are running an OEM Denso, there should be a part number on it. Go to one of the many parts sites and provide that #. Should get clarification am AMPerage.

 

Probably.. it is the same engine