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Both brake and charge warning lights on - '91 Toyota Camry
Sent to Car Experts May 24 01:27 PM

Both brake and charge light come on after about 3 miles of driving on my 1991 Toyota Camry. Battery is brand new. Alternator is about a year old. Alt. is a rebuilt purchased from Pep Boys. Battery tests at 12 V with car off, 12.5v with car started, and 14v with AC on. What's going on?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $10
Answer
May 24 4:59 PM (3 hours and 32 minutes and 20 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
 That makes no sense at all. The voltage should be lower with the A/C on. You should have 13.6 - 14.8 approx with nothing on.
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Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 740 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance
Reply
May 24 5:42 PM (42 minutes and 54 seconds later)
         
Reply to Tech501's Post: I'll check it again tonight and let you know. But, what is causing both the brake and charge warning lights to come on at the sames time after 3 miles of driving. Do I have a bad voltage regulator in the alternator?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 24 7:42 PM (2 hours and 30 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
 You need to check the charging voltage to find out. Asian cars have been known to do some wild things when the alternator goes bad. I've seen Nissans light up the whole dash because of a bad alternator. I realy don't know why it happens.
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Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 740 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance
Reply
May 25 9:30 AM (13 hours and 47 minutes and 39 seconds later)
         
Reply to Tech501's Post: I re-checked the voltage across the battery. 12.5V with car off. 13.5 V at idle. 14V with engine at high idle. 13V with a load on (AC). Shouldn't the voltage be up to at least 14V with the load on? Shouldn't the voltage dip and then go back up as the voltage regulator kicks in? Do I have a faulty voltage regulator in the alternator? What other test can I do to test the alternator and especially the voltage regulator in the alternator?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
May 25 5:58 PM (8 hours and 28 minutes and 11 seconds later)
         
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Tech501 -- Auto Service Technician -- 96% Positive Feedback on 740 Car Accepts
38 years exp, ASE Mastertech with L1 Advanced Engine performance
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