I have a 1988 Masterace Surf does anybody know where I can buy an alternator as mines buggered. So far my local Toyota dealer has quoted 500 quid plus shipping from Japan. Someone must know some where cheaper - (#772) Steve Duce, 7 Aug 01

I see that BBC Spares (www.bbcspares.co.uk) list s/hand alternators at around £50. However, could you not get your own alternator reconditioned by a localelectrical specialist ? - (#773) John Davis, 7 Aug 01

YES,that is true i had mine reconditioned and it now works perfectly.a much cheaper alternative to the rip-off merchants.--DAVE L - (#775) DAVE LINNEY, 8 Aug 01

Would alternator failure cause the following:
dim headlights, warning lights on display,
all interior lights dim (including dashboard),
indicator failure.
Oil & water at correct levels, alternator belt at correct tension.
If it is the alternator any suggestions about where to get one and the approx cost for a Toyota Townace Super Extra 1988 Diesel.

- (#7579) Steve, 5 Mar 03

YES, all of the above, but beware, it might not be the alternator itself, alot of Townies have an external regulator & these can often give trouble, get it checked first, then replace/repair whatever is faulty. HTH Rob.

- (#7580) Rob Drinkwater, 5 Mar 03

Don't forget to include the battery in your checks. A battery going open circuit can also produce those symptoms.
- (#7581) Ian Dunse, 6 Mar 03

chances are if its the alternator its the brushes, take it off , take the end cover off and check how much they protrude - less than 4 mm and they wont contact the rings and you get a flat battery
new brushes are 2.50 each and u need a soldering iron to replace em , best getting originals too as they have a round locator on the back for the spring
regards jim

- (#7582) J adgo, 6 Mar 03

Hi,
Can anyone help? I have a toyota masterace and The ignition lights are always on? Ive changed the brushes in the alternator but the regulator is external. Does anyone know where it is located?
My email is innocent1@ntlworld.com

- (#8358) Lee Innocent, 5 May 03 6:19

Aaahhhhhhh...I'm so cheesed off tonight, thought I had a starter motor problem but turns out it's the alternator...won't be driving my townie for a while now...'ain't life crap sometimes!!

- (#11570) Louise, 7 Nov 03 14:42

Does anyone have a spare one lying around???

- (#11571) Louise, 7 Nov 03 15:20

Is it the alternator of the regulator?
Alternators can be re-built cheaper than replacement.
Have you tried BBC spares?

- (#11572) Clive (Bristol), 8 Nov 03 3:46

Just how do I tell if it's the alternator or the regulator?

- (#11573) Louise, 8 Nov 03 17:01

No thickness implied.
Who diagnosed it was the alternator, garage?
If you can get an auto electrician to have look test it may well save you pounds in buying replacements for good parts.
I only have the Toyota manual to go by and every test involves a meter of some sort, hence the alto electrician who will know what to test and how.
Has the battery gone flat?

- (#11574) Clive (Bristol), 9 Nov 03 8:19

Had to call out the AA on Friday as my townie wouldn't start and had a flat battery. The guy gave the battery a boost which got it started but did some kind of test and said that the battery was hardly charging...hence the diagnosis that it was the alternator which was the problem.

- (#11575) Louise, 9 Nov 03 17:41

But an AA chap isn't going to know the intricacies (have I spelt that right?) of a Townie's charging system (not many people do). As Clive rightly says, the problem could easily be with the regulator which according to the number of posts on here is almost as common as the dreaded cooling problem. To concur, best way to find out is testing with a meter.

- (#11576) Ian Dunse, 10 Nov 03 2:18

Just to add something of my own experience here, I have had similar problems on other cars I've owned.

If it was particularly cold in your neck of the woods on Thursday night, this could have caused your flat battery. What happens is that as batteries get older, the ability to hold a charge reduces. Cold overnight temperatures will also reduce the ability to hold a decent charge, so a cold night for an old battery often results in no starting. Once it is started, and things start to warm up, the battery can once again hold a bit of charge, and so it tests out as if nothing is wrong. Then the assumption is that its the charging circuit is at fault.

I've had a few heated arguments with battery testers over the years, so when this happens to me now, I just tell them to replace the battery, and it usually cures the problem.

Regards
dave Bright

- (#11669) dave Bright, 10 Nov 03 3:40

Dave...started with no probs on Friday morning and got me to work...it was then left for 6 hours in which time there was virtually no charge left in the battery. Once it was started I drove it home but within 3 hours the battery was virtually flat again and the engine wouldn't start. I've tried it a couple of times since them but it won't start although there is a little charge left in the battery because the immobiliser is still functioning. Having an auto electrician dropping over tomorrow so maybe i'll know more then.

- (#11670) Louise, 10 Nov 03 16:58

Thelma,
just to rule out some things, that I'm sure the auto leccy will find...
Do you need to press the button to get the key out?
Has the Ace had a new battery fitted before you got it, does it have an old Japanese one fitted?
Are the terminal connections clean and tight?
Hope you are back on the road quickly and cheaply.
Hope that Louise still loves you, and treats you to dose of injector cleaner once you are well.

- (#11671) Clive (Bristol), 11 Nov 03 1:47

says...yes the button has to be pressed to get the key out...think it has the old battery...aa man said that all the connections were ok...and yes, Lou still loves me loads and can't wait to get back driving me again instead of the little baby car she also has!

- (#11672) Louise, 11 Nov 03 4:13

Hi Louise
That's a very good point from Clive about the ignition key. If its not all the way to the off position, there is a drain to the battery, and it will go flat after a time.

The engine needs electricity in order to run, and this is usually supplied by the alternator. If the alternator is not producing electricity, then the engine takes it from the battery. After a while the engine uses all the charge in the battery, and then stops. This doesn't seem to be happening here.

Now that its darker in the morning and evening, the charge produced by the alternator has to provide power to the lights, heater fan etc as well as run the engine and recharge the battery after starting. That adds up to quite a lot of demand on the alternator, but it should be able to cope, so long as the alternator, regulator and battery are in good order.

Your battery has almost no charge, but the engine can run when you do manage to get it going. This suggests that the alternator is working, but the battery either isn't getting, or isn't holding the charge. This would point to the regulator or the battery. When its dark, run the engine without any lights on, and see if the ignition light is glowing faintly. If it isn't, it would suggest that the regulator is ok, but the battery is at fault.

Good luck with your auto electrician today, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you
Regards
dave Bright

- (#11673) dave Bright, 11 Nov 03 4:32

The guy who is coming to take a look at Thelma this afternoon specialises in Jap imports so he should know what he's looking for...he's a little dearer to call out than other local garages but I thought it was best to get an opinion from someone who is used to the way these cars are made...my fingers are crossed too!

- (#11674) Louise, 11 Nov 03 4:56

Well guys...it wasn't the starter motor or the alternator, the battery or even the regulator...turns out my fan belt was slipping! After extensive poking and prodding around my leccy asked me to rev the engine to try and get some charge into the battery and there was a very distinctive squeaking and squealing...he took Thelma away, gave her a bit of a tweak and brought her back as good as new...bless him, he only charged me £25 for over an hours work including the call out charge. Thelma and I have been for a lovely drive this evening just to get reaquainted...all together now...ahhhhhhh!

- (#11675) Louise, 11 Nov 03 17:17

Dead easy to miss the obvious 1st check!

Now your next project is to buy and fit one of Dave Mason's excellent Temp Alarms.
If you have trouble or are not sure how to fit I happy to help out if you pop over to Bristol. Indeed any one who can get to Bristol is welcome to contact me for help/advice on all things Townace/Spacecruiser.

- (#11676) Clive (Bristol), 12 Nov 03 2:03

Cheers Clive, you're a mate...I may well take you up on that offer as I wouldn't have a clue on how to go about fitting anything at all to Thelma!

- (#11677) Louise, 12 Nov 03 2:50