My truck broke down tonight

So Ive had my battery for about 2 months now and had no problems with it no corrosion or anything clean as the day I put it in and my truck hasn't seen mud in a while

 

Same thing happened to my buddies Ranger a year ago. Bad alternator was the cause.

 

The battery light came on in my last 05 at about 90k miles. I tested it with my meter and it was putting out like 13.2 volts. Enough to keep the battery charged and everything working, but the light was on all the time. 2 months later I got the really bright headlights, then really dim headlights, then the radio cut out, then the lights got really bright again.... this happened constantly all the way home. So I bought another alternator and put it in. Problem solved.

 

If you can get your truck to AutoZone or Advance Auto they will check it for free. They will tell you if it is the battery or alternator. Personally it sounds like a bad alternator to me.

 

DO NOT DO THIS!!!!!!! If the alt WAS good it won't be after.

 

Removing the ground off a running battery can work on some cars but not on others depending on how they are wired. I would bet money that your alternator is bad. Remove it, take it to a shop and have it bench tested.

Make sure you put your battery on a trickle tender to get it back up to charge. The alternator is designed to keep a good battery good, not to charge up a battery with 10.5 volts. Once you are charged back up to 12.6 or so you should be able to put everything back together. Start your truck and make sure you are putting out 13.6 or so

If the alternator tests good on the bench, you may have bad wiring in your ignition path.

 

^^^^^^^^
What He Said

 

Did you change your undies?

 

you do know you can replace you alternator brushes for 5 to 15 bucks
if the copper slip ring inside the alternator is also worn down you may need to take it to a repair / rebuild specialist. sill 65 bucks for a rebuild is better that 200 for so called "new" at auto zone or 300 at the stealership.
how to and parts info
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/alternator_brushes/
http://forum.ih8mud.com/79-95-toyota-truck-tech/191784-alternator-brush-change.html
http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-236847.html

 

Voltage regulator went kaput on you. Alternators generate a fair amount of heat which tends to fry an internal voltage regulator.

 

If you have a meter, check and see what the alt is charging at. If that checks ok then check the battery.
Don't forget also check the battery under a load.

 

extech ftw...

ummm yeah what he said