SouthernSS

yeah, just bad luck for you. I wouldnt particularly blame toyota for this one. Sometimes things just go bad despite the best components being used.

telmz1

iTrader: (1)

My alternator on my 06 GX went out @ 78K miles. I replaced it myself with a duralast alternator from autozone. It was a PIA to do...

I have 210k on my 99 Accord, same alternator.

redrocks

Not bad luck, just differences in quality. I had a 92 Accord with 206k an never replaced the alternator. Like I said before, none of the Hondas or Acuras (I owned) ever had alternators replaced. Given that Telmz1 also had his alternator replaced with 78k, maybe it's not luck?

RCsGX

redrocks...was it your alternator?

My battery warning light came on yesterday afternoon. I checked the battery voltage and it was 12.48V. I removed the cables and put the battery on a charger for about 6hrs. @ 6A. Fully charged the voltage was 13.5V. I connected the cables back and started the GX. The voltage dropped a little so the alternator definitely wasn't doing it's job. I started turning the a/c on, head / fog lights on and kept it running for about 5-6mins. Turned it off and the voltage was at 13.05V.

470reasons

For reference, my 2004 GX measures 14.2 Volts at the battery, at idle speed, with accessories and lights off.

I have to replace the alternator and belt in my CRX tomorrow. The alternator was rebuilt by a local starter/alternator 'specialist.' about 14 months ago. Paid for new bearings, but I would bet money he didn't replace the bearings. Alternator is seized up solid. Just happy that it happened in my driveway. I'm going to keep the old alternator and rebuild it myself to keep as a spare to use WHEN the AutoZ*** unit blows up.

That 75 buck labor charge sounds pretty good. Hope you have a long trouble-free spell after the repair!

RCsGX

After reading several 4Runner & 1 GX alternator install thread, I'll gladly pay the $75 for labor. One 4Runner owner said it's easier if you go through the passenger side wheel well but w/ the Icon remote reservoir there isn't enough room.

Hopefully I hear back from one of the vendors / members on ih8mud. I'd rather pay $200 for a Toyota rebuilt vs $313 for a new one from Sewell. That price difference will pay for the labor and then some.


Me too!!


EDIT: Ended up ordering a new one through Sewell last night and got a shipping confirmation at 10am. this morning. NOBODY beats Sewell!

470reasons

Great. You should have this done by the end of the week then.

I cancelled my alternator order with Auto Zone and decided to let my mechanic install one. I did the alternator remove and replace last year and it was not easy. Just like the GX, you can get the alternator disconnected and unbolted relatively easy - it's figuring out how to get the loose alternator out of the engine bay that makes the job so tough. I had to unbolt the brake booster and disconnect the booster/master cylinder from the brake pedal. I'm getting too old to be going upside down under that cramped dash to undo the cotter pin hidden behind the steering column! So $298 installed, with a lifetime warranty, sounds O.K. to me. (Auto Zone alternator was $74.00 +tax)

My rex:




Let us know what voltage readings you get with a fresh alternator!

RCsGX

I was thinking of going w/ an aftermarket re-manned but too many had bad reviews (Napa, Autozone etc.) so when in doubt I'll pay extra and go w/ OEM. I was going to spring a little more and get one from DC power (puts out at idle *130A* what our OEM puts out at peak) but they're custom built and I need to get back on the road asap.
https://www.dcpowerinc.com/fit/Lexus...94-180-hp.html


I like your CRX. Back in probably '93-'94 my high school buddy bought a yellow one, we called it the killer bee...that thing was pretty quick back then. Back in those days if you were lucky enough to own a car to drive to school it was a hoopty so to have a nice new'ish CRX he was the man! Those were the days.....

NR04

I had to replace my alternator at 63K miles (2006 model) about a year ago. I agree with others that it is really rare to hear an alternator failure these days. I'm not sure if Denso made a bad batch of alternators during 2004-2006, or it's simply the location of the alternator in our engines which causes early failure. Typically, most engines have alternators on the top. Ours is located more towards the bottom and is susceptible to more moisture and dirt.

The reason for mentioning the 2004-2006 model years is from my own research on the web on our V8 engines with alternator failures. There were a lot of Prado, Land Cruiser, Tundra and Sequoia owners who had to replace it. But of course the reason could be it takes a while for these alternators to fail and these owners could go through the similar problem.

You can't purchase a new alternator. Even the ones you get from Toyota/Lexus dealers are remanufactured units. I believe almost all of our alternators are made by Denso. I just purchased a reman unit from RockAuto. I just made sure that it was remanufactured from Denso and not some other company.

Also $75 to replace the alternator is cheap! It took me about 2.5 hours to replace it (2 hours to remove and 30 minutes to install). You have to remove the coolant reservoir and the power steering pulley. You can't slide the alternator out of the fixated bolts if you don't. And if you have KDSS (like me), you have to drop the sway bar. The easiest way to remove the bolts is through the passenger wheel well. Then you slide the alternator out and guide it through the bottom.

burny

why dont you guys just buy the brush kit from Sewells and replace it for $15. I had a 4runner with the original shell in it and replaced the brushes like 3 times. Have done it in my GS300 also.

Here is thread on a starter rebuild, just replacing contacts/brushes that wear down. I did this on same 4runner like 4 times and also on GS300. If you can remove the parts, this is a cake walk.

http://forum.ih8mud.com/60-series-wa...r-rebuild.html

Part # 27370 for Alternator
http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...X470-2009.html

RCsGX

I'd rather buy a part that's uses Toyota parts than Rockauto etc. I read too many bad reviews...everyone said to use a rebuilt alt. from Toyota or rebuild it yourself.


That's why I'm having them do it.

burny

can I have your old Alternator RC?

RCsGX

Nope, going to rebuild it and sell it on eBay one of these days. Same for my rear caliper.



And I heard back from the member / vendor over in ih8mud. His Toyota pricing w/ the discount was more than Sewell and I had to send in a core, Sewell doesn't require any core.

NR04

Toyota doesn't make any alternators, nor do they rebuild them. The primary OEM manufacture for Toyota's alternator is Denso. The unit I bought from RockAuto was rebuilt by Denso.

You can buy a cheaper version of rebuilt Denso alternators from vendors who perform the rebuilds themselves. I elected to pay a little bit more to have one built by the same company who manufactures them. Therefore the rebuilt ones you get from the dealer is the same unit I got from RockAuto. Just a lot cheaper.

I can almost swear that every Toyota/Lexus dealer required a core charge when I shopped around from mine. But you're right, the Sewell site doesn't mention any core charge. I'd be curious to see if you get a brand new unit from Sewell because I was told that no dealer sells brand new models, and reman models do require a core charge.

RCsGX

My Scangauge showed 13.9V at idle / MM showed the same, 13.98V at the terminals. The shop is less than a mile from my house so the battery probably wasn't fully charged up. I'll see later and if it's low put it on the charger but I'm sure 13.9V is fine. I'm just glad to finally have my GX back!






EDIT:
The resting voltage of the battery is 12.9V. I checked the manual and I'm right at half way between the recommended voltage for the alternator so I'm good.