Alternator problem on 89 SC

89Mr2Supercharged · 05-15-2009, 09:39 AM

I fear that my alternator has finally gone(89 aw11 SC), the other day while driving the cooling fan and the parking brake light turned on(is that the code for charging problems with the SC?), later when I tried to start it, it tried to turn but the battery seemed dead. I was able to push start it and limp home, on the way all my lights went dim as it was night.

Any suggestions would be helpful. I have been trying to find info on how to change it out, and to confirm that this is the problem... I have found out that apparently the Supercharged version has a regulator in the trunk that could be bad? Anyone have any info about this?

It also seems like it could be hard to get out but I am up for the challenge.

muffinman · 05-15-2009, 10:26 AM

I don't know much about the SC cars but that definately sounds like your alternator is bad. Do you have the BGB download?

89Mr2Supercharged · 05-15-2009, 10:35 AM

No, what is the BGB download?

muffinman · 05-15-2009, 10:45 AM

BGB is the Toyota manual known as the Big Green Book.

muffinman · 05-15-2009, 11:05 AM

here is the link for the download , it should have all the info you need.

Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire

89Mr2Supercharged · 05-15-2009, 11:25 AM

Hey thanks a lot for that link!

ebouwman · 05-15-2009, 12:21 PM

If you're cooling fan light comes on then be carefull that you're not overheating!

palos · 05-15-2009, 02:38 PM

When I had to replace either my alternator or the battery, the same lights came on. The car had approximately 150K when the alternator was replaced. Sounds as though you were running strictly off the battery if your lights dimmed.

If I recall, I unbolted the AC compressor from its bracket to get room to remove the alternator. You may want to consider replacing the oil pressure sender as a precautionary measure to avoid those nuisance oil leaks.

toyotaspeed90 · 05-15-2009, 09:03 PM

s/c's have an external regulator..... if it turns out to be a bad regulator, then it won't be the alt.....

PumpMag · 05-28-2009, 02:28 AM

I had the same lights (brake, battery, cooling fan) glow red the past couple days on my 87 NA MR2. And the Battery gauge seemed to read barely above 1/2 usually its at the 3/4 mark.

I just installed a Reman Bosch Alternator tonight from Pep Boys and it runs fine now. All three lights are gone.

Hectorchadwick · 07-01-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PumpMag

I had the same lights (brake, battery, cooling fan) glow red the past couple days on my 87 NA MR2. And the Battery gauge seemed to read barely above 1/2 usually its at the 3/4 mark.

I just installed a Reman Bosch Alternator tonight from Pep Boys and it runs fine now. All three lights are gone.

I have the same 3 lights on, they went on and off a couple of days but now they are permanently on, I change the alternator and battery and they are still on, any sugestions?

Jackstand Queen · 07-02-2009, 07:47 PM

Rockauto.com carries Airtex brand which makes IC regulators (a trunk located version of a Voltage Regulator) for SC owners.

You might want to go through the BGB and run whatever diagnostic tests you are able to do, before replacing your alternator and IC regulator.

If I were in your predicament, and couldn't run the tests myself, I'd simply replace the Alternator first, and if that didn't work, then replace the IC regulator. Taking it to a garage, would entail a fee for diagnosing the problem. Paying about twice as much (or more) for parts as you would from Rockauto. And at least an hour of labor @ 70. per.

Starlet 3SGTE · 07-02-2009, 10:11 PM

I have to say I found this suprising, never realized the SC had an external regulator. Can you get me a picture of the plug? I can tell you how to test it if you can. I'm expecting the plug to have 2 connectors, am I right?

Jackstand Queen · 07-03-2009, 12:25 AM

The connectors have 4 wires I think. All going to a rectifier. One lead to ignitor, one to ECU, one to ground and one to the Alternator.

Extreme caution must be applied when testing. Mistakes could be costly.

Starlet 3SGTE · 07-03-2009, 07:06 PM

Picture of the plug on the alternator I meant. I build alternators for a living.

05-15-2009, 09:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
89Mr2Supercharged No Skills Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Alternator problem on 89 SC I fear that my alternator has finally gone(89 aw11 SC), the other day while driving the cooling fan and the parking brake light turned on(is that the code for charging problems with the SC?), later when I tried to start it, it tried to turn but the battery seemed dead. I was able to push start it and limp home, on the way all my lights went dim as it was night. Any suggestions would be helpful. I have been trying to find info on how to change it out, and to confirm that this is the problem... I have found out that apparently the Supercharged version has a regulator in the trunk that could be bad? Anyone have any info about this? It also seems like it could be hard to get out but I am up for the challenge.

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05-15-2009, 10:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,878 Thanks: 53 Thanked 282 Times in 271 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I don't know much about the SC cars but that definately sounds like your alternator is bad. Do you have the BGB download?

05-15-2009, 10:35 AM	#3 (permalink)
89Mr2Supercharged No Skills Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	No, what is the BGB download?

05-15-2009, 10:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,878 Thanks: 53 Thanked 282 Times in 271 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	BGB is the Toyota manual known as the Big Green Book.

05-15-2009, 11:05 AM	#5 (permalink)
muffinman U-P-G-R-A-Y-E-D-D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Sunny South Florida Posts: 5,878 Thanks: 53 Thanked 282 Times in 271 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	here is the link for the download , it should have all the info you need. Free File Hosting Made Simple - MediaFire

05-15-2009, 11:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
89Mr2Supercharged No Skills Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 16 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Hey thanks a lot for that link!

05-15-2009, 12:21 PM	#7 (permalink)
ebouwman Curve Hugger Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: BC Posts: 1,600 Thanks: 19 Thanked 51 Times in 51 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	If you're cooling fan light comes on then be carefull that you're not overheating!

05-15-2009, 02:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
palos … Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 544 Thanks: 0 Thanked 44 Times in 42 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	When I had to replace either my alternator or the battery, the same lights came on. The car had approximately 150K when the alternator was replaced. Sounds as though you were running strictly off the battery if your lights dimmed. If I recall, I unbolted the AC compressor from its bracket to get room to remove the alternator. You may want to consider replacing the oil pressure sender as a precautionary measure to avoid those nuisance oil leaks.

05-15-2009, 09:03 PM	#9 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,401 Thanks: 0 Thanked 148 Times in 143 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	s/c's have an external regulator..... if it turns out to be a bad regulator, then it won't be the alt.....

05-28-2009, 02:28 AM	#10 (permalink)
PumpMag MR2 MKI Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 52 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I had the same lights (brake, battery, cooling fan) glow red the past couple days on my 87 NA MR2. And the Battery gauge seemed to read barely above 1/2 usually its at the 3/4 mark. I just installed a Reman Bosch Alternator tonight from Pep Boys and it runs fine now. All three lights are gone.

07-02-2009, 07:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	Rockauto.com carries Airtex brand which makes IC regulators (a trunk located version of a Voltage Regulator) for SC owners. You might want to go through the BGB and run whatever diagnostic tests you are able to do, before replacing your alternator and IC regulator. If I were in your predicament, and couldn't run the tests myself, I'd simply replace the Alternator first, and if that didn't work, then replace the IC regulator. Taking it to a garage, would entail a fee for diagnosing the problem. Paying about twice as much (or more) for parts as you would from Rockauto. And at least an hour of labor @ 70. per.

07-02-2009, 10:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
Starlet 3SGTE Horsepower Junkie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Savannah GA Posts: 124 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have to say I found this suprising, never realized the SC had an external regulator. Can you get me a picture of the plug? I can tell you how to test it if you can. I'm expecting the plug to have 2 connectors, am I right?

07-03-2009, 12:25 AM	#14 (permalink)
Jackstand Queen Cage Fighter Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 840 Thanks: 75 Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts iTrader Rating: (1/100% )	The connectors have 4 wires I think. All going to a rectifier. One lead to ignitor, one to ECU, one to ground and one to the Alternator. Extreme caution must be applied when testing. Mistakes could be costly.

07-03-2009, 07:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
Starlet 3SGTE Horsepower Junkie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Savannah GA Posts: 124 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Picture of the plug on the alternator I meant. I build alternators for a living.