Short?

KEYSTONE4R

MEMBER
TOYOTA 4RUNNER

I have a 90 4runner with 200,000 miles. The brake and charge light started coming on at the same time. They both go off at the same time while going uphill. Any idea where I might look for the bad wire?

Saturday, May 13th, 2006 AT 4:14 PM

3 Replies

LOSONE

MECHANIC
1,616 POSTS

The brake light is Toyotas way of telling you that you have a charging problem. They figured a brake light on would make you take notice and it worked. I think you have a bad or nearly bad alternator. Have someone check it out.

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Saturday, May 13th, 2006 AT 6:45 PM

KEYSTONE4R

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I had the plug on the alternator go bad, and just the idiot light for the charge system came on. This seems more like an occasional short. Parked facing uphill, the lights sometimes go off, but as soon as I get it level or downhill, they come back on. I'm wondering where to look for a wire that would kill the charge and bring the brake light on.

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Saturday, May 13th, 2006 AT 7:14 PM

LOSONE

MECHANIC
1,616 POSTS

I don't think what you have going on is a short if so it would blow a fuse. I think it is a ground problem. I would check all grounds from the battery to the engine, engine to fire wall and battery to frame. Remove and clean as often there is a disimiliar metal problem that causes corroision.

For many years Japanese vehicles have had a system where a fuse opens or there is a loss of a light or voltage and odd light will light on the dash. I have seen this the early 70's. Good luck

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Monday, May 15th, 2006 AT 7:37 AM