any suggestions where to get them.... as for batteries i heard some1 just say go to costco... but what about alternator?

 

For battery I would only suggest to use 'sealed type', you can sift through archives and you will see a host of reccomended brands. Optima is mentioned quite a bit (and used by me), but keep in mind they are not a drop in replacements.

Are you sure you need a new alternator? Ever since the self tensioning serpentine belt system has been put in place, the bearings should outlast the car. Brushes do get worn down but once again the milage ought be close to 175K or more. Rest should be bullet proof beyond infant mortality.

Still need to replace the alternator? If so you can either rebuild it, buy a rbuilt one or buy a brand new one[listed in order of cost]. For the rebuild kit or replacement, I would suggest buy it from one of the sponcers of CL and save some money and give bussiness to friends.

For no apprent reason, I would not suggest to buy non-toyota/Lexus alternators.

Salim

 

If you are going to keep the car a lot longer, the Optima is the way to go. I have one and it was not entirely that hard to put in (and you can always ask us for help).

As far as an alternator, I have been looking at high-powered ones, but with my new pulley not sure it would be necessary.

 

Costco battery only cost $39 is made by Johnson Controls maker of the Optima batteries. I am not trying to say it is just as good but it worked for me.

 

^ thats what i heard as well.... if u look at the post some1 made about lights flickering... that is y i think my girl needs an alternator... when the accessories are on the lights are fine... as soon as i fire the car up all the lights on the car exterior and interior start to flicker...

 

There are 2 electrical problems that can happen in an alternator ...
1. Leakage path [instead of charging the units discharges the battery]
2. Failure to produce votage+current at certain rpm.

Both of the above can be checked out either with the alternator removed or still on the engine. Lights flikering can be due to battery condition or the quirks of the charging system. [I know the alternator is at the heart of the charging system] Keep in mind the flickering, surely is an annoyance but not necessarily trouble condiiton. [Also once you replace the alternator, you may still get the flickering].

Salim

 

Does the CostCo battery have "blue eye" or "green eye" to check battery condition?

 

Toyota Star News said the flickering affecting some vehicles with that engine were caused by the A/F sensors pulsing. The A/F sensors have been updated to stop the flickering but I believe they are the same part numbers.

 

see but after the flickering started my girls car sometimes like once a month will just die when u are stopping at a stop light... but will fire right back up like nothing happend

 

do you have the links to the sites w/ the alternators. i am gonna try the redtop battery 1st but if it doesnt fix my flickering problem, i needa new alternator. i have a solobaric 15" l7 with a kx1200 kicker amp. i have a 2.4 farad cap but i guess it cant handle 1400+ watts. i cant turn my music up to the point i want to without my headlights goin with the beat

 

No, no eye on the Costco battery. I am not sure how much this really matters. Everytime I read about one of the original RX Panasonic batteries failing the eye indicates it is still good.