[MR2] Electrical fault.

[Kurt Krueger]

If it's just brushes, the cost is about $10 US.  New alternators at 
Toyota can run $400.  Guaranteed for life replacements often means a 
lifetime of replacements.  So rebuilding your existing one is the better 
bet.  If you need bearings, lots of shops in the states will do a 
complete overhaul for about $100.

I don't remember .... does the MkII light up all the dash lights (like 
the MkI) when the alternator goes out?

On 2/25/2012 6:48 PM, Donald Chalfant wrote:
> Certainly alternators available over here Phil, but to get one in the UK, probably shopping closer to home would be cheaper. Perhaps even the breakers. I have the old IMOC UK list address somewhere but its sparsely populated these days. Here is the forum address which should do http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/
>
> Since this symptom has appeared without your doing any monkeying around with the system and perhaps the alternator wire coming loose, the failing brushes theory sounds good.  Sometimes a brush will also stick in the guide from dirt/salt etc slopped into it, but at any event, you or someone is going to have to get their hands dirty. 8)
>    ----- Original Message -----
>    From: Phil Dolling -PRIVATE
>    To: autoxer at sbcglobal.net ; mr2 at mr2.com
>    Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 3:35 PM
>    Subject: Re: [MR2] Electrical fault.
>
>
>    Thanks for a quick reply.
>
>     I did hear a high pitched 'whizzing' sound around the same time from behind me which could be the alternator. But car has done 55,000 miles so should be ok.
>
>    Can you still get an alternator?
>
>    ----- Original Message -----
>    From: Byron [mailto:autoxer at sbcglobal.net]
>    Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 08:28 PM
>    To: mr2 at mr2.com<mr2 at mr2.com>
>    Subject: Re: [MR2] Electrical fault.
>
>    It could be a sign of a failing alternator or it might be a bad ground
>    connection. If your car has a lot of miles on it, worn brushes in the
>    alternator would be my guess.
>
>    Byron
>    93 Turbo
>
>    On 02/25/12 12:16 PM, Phil Dolling -PRIVATE wrote:
>    >  I'm in London UK and have a 1994 Mk2 T-Bar. Everyday use and no problems, it runs well.
>    >
>    >  However a couple of odd electrical faults have occurred intermittently I'm not sure of the source. Or if they are related.
>    >
>    >  1. On motorway the rev counter started flipping around at about 3,000 rpm. The engine speed was steady. Noticed ammeter also flickering and clock dimming at the same time. Fault vanished at higher revs. This happened about three weeks ago, lasted about 30 mins and has never happened since.
>    >
>    >  2. On journey home last night - in dark with all lights on noticed lamps dim when I pulled hard lock to left (not right). I assumed power steering was putting on heavy load. The clock reset at the same time. This all happened at tick-over in heavy traffic.
>    >
>    >  All a bit if a mystery. Could be the battery which is very old. Or a wire loose somewhere?
>    >
>    >  All advice welcome.
>    >
>    >  Yours Phil