Warning Lights

[RockyF75]

Ok, yesterday 3 of my warning lights started coming on/off, now they are on permanently. Its the "Fuel Drain", "Charge" and "(!)Brake" lights... could it be electrical fault or is it a sign of something more serious ?

Read through search and sum1 mentioned alternator brushes? How hard is that to fix? Would a sparky do it or is it just easyier to get a new alternator cuz i was told a few weeks ago that its not doing so good

[chev28]

Fan belt ok or slipping?

Otherwise, the alternator is the way to go. You can get a rebuilt alternator fairly cheaply.

[runnin4life]

yep brushes is a comen problem

my old man had that problem but make sure you go to a good auto electricain to get it done

my mate got a rebuilt alternator from a sparky and it had half worn bushes re fitted when rebuilt

i have a similiar problem where the hand brake light comes on and fuel light
and my battery light is always on ive been told by 3 mechanics its the diodes in the back basically there rat shit and it letting electricity flow both way when the engine is turned off

so wilst it turned of its slowly draining the battery but i drive it every day its enought to keep it charged

cheers
elliot

[RockyF75]

Fan belt ok or slipping?

Otherwise, the alternator is the way to go. You can get a rebuilt alternator fairly cheaply.

yeah, fan belt is sweet. Talked to a sparky today and he said 'sometimes' they can fix em Anyone know any specialist places in sydney that rebuild them?

EDIT: been ringing around and no1 seems to make em for rockys, i mean, i know parts are hard to get but this is BS 'sorry mate, you'll have to throw your car in the bin cuz we cant rebuild your alt and no1 makes a replacemet'

[murcod]

Could be time for an alternator upgrade? eg. my Feroza has a Toyota Camry 70 Amp one fitted-> $50 from a wrecker + some bits and pieces/time to fit.

[RockyF75]

so what fits on a rocky? i pretty much know nuthing about alts except what i've read here. Would a hilux one fit??

[The Rocky]

the rocky alternators there is nothin to them pull them apart replace the bearing and new brushes u just need a soldering iron and need some one who can solder most off the time it just needs new brushes

[RockyF75]

the rocky alternators there is nothin to them pull them apart replace the bearing and new brushes u just need a soldering iron and need some one who can solder most off the time it just needs new brushes

are the bearings and brushes pretty generic/easy to purchase?

[BundyRumandCoke]

The brush unit comes out in about 10 mins. The brushes themselves are common, any good auto electrician will stock them. A soldering iron is all that is needed to install them. All up, about 30 mins to fix it up. Just make sure you get the insulators and washers on the outside of the alternator brush unit back in their correct places. You dont even need to remove the alternator from the vehicle.

As for replacement alternators, the problem with this is the vacuum pump on the rear. I dont know of another alternator that will fit.

[RockyF75]

ok, thanks heaps, i'm not going to be doing it myslef, droping it off at auto leccy tomorrow and he said 'sometimes' theyt can repair them, so I just wanted to get a good idea of whats going on so I dont get ripped off

[chev28]

Usually, the "sometimes" refers to the condition of the armature (the but inside with the coils of wire wound around it. Unfortunately, if the brushes are left to wear for too long then the armature can suffer wear (and also over time) and the coils break down. No one seems to rewind armatures these days so it is then a total replacement.

Finding another one should be possible at least from a specialist 4WD wrecker (try Google). Otherwise, a "good" auto electrician should be able to swap out from another vehicle. I can't remember if you're petrol or diesel?