is my alternator dead?

[Macca177]

Well the last week or so on the way home from work at night with lowbeam lights on... im lucky to make 12volts while driving..but last 2 nights its been 11 if im lucky. without the headlights on during the day i get 12.5 - 13.5volts on a good day.

i think its time for a replacment.
wot options do u havea in upgrading to a bigger one..it has the vacum lines for the brake on it too
its a 2.8d hilux

wot are approx prices for a new, or exchange, or can i get it rebuilt?
ill get on the fone today but i really have NFI wot they are worth.
thanks all

[Snatchy]

i Have no idea about hiluxes, but if it is a diesel and has a vacume pump on the back of the alternator, then they cost lots more than no vacume.

Options for upgrading to bigger output ones - check out http://www.aea.com.au/shopping/index.html

They sell replacemnt alternators with higher output for a number of 4wds. i am not sure what they have for hiluxes... you can have a look yourself.

as a guide a new 60 amp alt with vacume for a GQ from nissan = $900
a new 70 amp, to suit same as above from aea $500, 110 amp from aea $560ish
So aea are good for cost and have options other than standard.

hope your alternator only has a simple problem...

[bazzle]

day time voltage a bit low.

Check brush length 1st.

Bazzle

[Area54]

Replacement aftermarket alternators were around 495 last time I checked, these are new, not rebuilt and were 80amp. Available from local auto sparky.

Could be a number of things though, it would pay to make a visit to the local auto sparky first to diagnose the problem if you are unsure of what to check. First thing I would check are the simple things, are your battery terminals clean, and clamps nice and tight? Battery fluid levels correct? ALWAYS check the simple things first.

Do you have any lights in the dash staying on when the motor is running?

I recently fixed a problem in my lux, I rebuilt the alt (new brushes, rewound stator, new rectifier - diodes blown and frame rusted through from mud) and also new adjustable voltage regulator (older non adjustable reg failed testing). Ended up being a corroded crimped terminal behind the fuse box in the kick panel. This caused a chain reaction right down the line.

[carts]

Sounds to me like you have a regulator problem rather than an alternator problem....

Is your reg external to the alternator? If so, if you have a mate with a similar vehicle, try swapping the regs to see if it brings up the charging voltage.

I had a similar problem on my 60series not long back. I got the alternator rebuilt, to no avail....Chucked in a new reg and it was perfect!

If you are feeling energetic, pull the alternator out and take it up to your local autoelectrician and he should be able to bench test it for you.

Aaron