Well I am installing my 4 alternator in 4 years on my Toyota Cressida. I don't know if I have a ground problem or not but I have also install a new or extra ground from the battery to the body. The voltage regulator is suppose to be part of the alternator so I am at a lost as to what else to check. Any toyota cressida experts out there. Thanks. It is a 1988 model.
Totoya Cressida that eats alternators
- Thread starter TR3-2001SE
- Start date
- Status
When was the last time the battery was replaced?
Next are you running some BIG amps / stereo stuff?
Next are you running some BIG amps / stereo stuff?
Are you using cheapo rebuilt units? If you saw how sloppily most of these rebuilt units are built, you'd never buy one again.
Knock on WOOD my Honda Accord has the original alternator and starter, at 185k miles. My secret so far is change battery out as soon has I detect failure. Headlights / dash lights are dimmer at stop lights, are my first indications usually at 3yrs on a 6yr battery.
I can't believe Honda is making better A & S then Toyota.
I can't believe Honda is making better A & S then Toyota.
No 1 was NAPA Lasted 60 days replaced under warranty.
No2 was NAPA lasted 1 year.
No 3 was Advance Auto lifetime guarranty lasted almost 2 years.
No 4 will be Advance auto as it is free.
No extra auto equipment std radio etc. standard alternators for this model.
Battery has been replace during the four years. I don't believe it could be the battery.
[ July 07, 2004, 01:12 PM: Message edited by: TR3-2001SE ]
No2 was NAPA lasted 1 year.
No 3 was Advance Auto lifetime guarranty lasted almost 2 years.
No 4 will be Advance auto as it is free.
No extra auto equipment std radio etc. standard alternators for this model.
Battery has been replace during the four years. I don't believe it could be the battery.
[ July 07, 2004, 01:12 PM: Message edited by: TR3-2001SE ]
The places you mention don't actually rebuild the units themselves, they buy them from a handful or so remanufacturers. Most are junk, a couple are fairly good.
I wish I could remember one of the better ones. When I have more time, I'll see if I can come up with a name of one of the better ones.
In the meantime, maybe fixing your ground will solve your problems. Don't think your battery had anything to do with it.
I wish I could remember one of the better ones. When I have more time, I'll see if I can come up with a name of one of the better ones.
In the meantime, maybe fixing your ground will solve your problems. Don't think your battery had anything to do with it.
Napa sells two levels of alternators...one is junk and one is apparantly rebuilt pertty good (Power Supreme).
Well given the list of repair alternators, I will say no not the battery.
I will say a battery near death as little as I stated above, will draw more / stress more the alternators. This maybe why I still have the original one after 185k miles, just waiting for the brushes to wear out
Then off to a good rebuild shop in town
I will say a battery near death as little as I stated above, will draw more / stress more the alternators. This maybe why I still have the original one after 185k miles, just waiting for the brushes to wear out
Glad to see someone else with a Cressida. One of the best built cars ever made. I have an 85 since 1996 and had to replace one alternator which was from Advance Auto (Lifetime Warranty). It has been in there about 2 years now with no problems. I will confirm the poor quality of after market starters and alternators though. I also had to replace the starter about a year ago and it works nowhere near as well as original. However when you check out Toyota prices and find out they only give 1 year warranty and Advance gives lifetime then it's not much of a decision when you do your own labor. I've done a lot of work on this car so maybe we can trade some knowledge.
No one uses a local rebuild shop for this?
Most I ever found looked like "They" just took all of them apart cleaned then put them all back together. So in the end you get different bodies of parts, never the same part / same body. So the inners may be of a different version then the outer case, and the two where probably never meant to go together.
Most I ever found looked like "They" just took all of them apart cleaned then put them all back together. So in the end you get different bodies of parts, never the same part / same body. So the inners may be of a different version then the outer case, and the two where probably never meant to go together.
GREAT car... had an 85 or 88.... Love the PICKUP
in that honey ... when I used it I got like 8-10 MPG, wife got 19-21... I donno why.
Anyway... check ground and the starter and the battery... go to Autozone or a repairshop and they have a machine that checks it....
Then if everything is okay.
Go pay a Alt.or Electrical repair shop the bucks for their rebuild... usually the only thing done is to clean it replace maybe a worn part and put new brushes in there... then they WILL test it... and USUALLY they work like the original.
Toyotas are sometimes funny on parts like this.
I have known people that had good results with the parts houses... BUT I too went through many many Alts from partshouses(because of timing) until I used a rebuild shop. Then suddenly no more problems.....
That's contracditory logic.
Most likely the OEM part will outlast the reman. unit, yet you would rather continue to get free replacements (which aren't really free since you have to spend time and gas removing the broken part, getting to the store, and reinstalling the part.
Wouldn't you rather get the right part the first time and not have to replace it as often? The one year warranty is a good idea. If a part is going to fail, it'll do it during the first year. They can't warranty a well made part forever and still make a profit.
What they (they don't call them discount parts stores for nothing) can do is buy the cheapest reman. and not care if it comes back since it's nothing to them.
I usually get reman. factory parts from the dealer or a rebuild shop (but they are increasingly harder to find - good ones that is).
How long did the original last?
Seotaji, yes it can be counter productive. I've had good results from after market parts though. It's hard to justify a 2-3 X more expensive dealer part on a 20year old car when the car might pack it in completely in the next 2-3 years and the good part will just go to the junk yard scavenger. I guess my opposition to Toyota warranty and prices is largely philosophical. If they infer or say their part will outlast aftermarket then why not back it up with warranty? The original part on the vehicle came with a better warranty than the supposed same replacement part. I've had Toyota parts guys frustrated with Toyo warranty as well because they are trying to sell parts.
MY experience is that when these are being "rebuilt" - (new brushes,) that one has to be very careful not to overheat the unit when making the soldering connection for the new brushes. Too much heat and it shortens the life of the voltage regulator. I've even done this myself when I was trying to avoid it.
FWIW, the Toyota reman. alternator is really a brand new ND unit of excellant quality. That is what I'm using and they generally last just like the new one did.
BTW, my transmission dropped out on my Cressida Friday after I punched it. I think stripped the splines in the torque convertor but it is at the shop so won't know till next week. What I do know is I will be spending the big $$ now...
I would try cleaning all terminals. + & - at the battery. The + at the alt and the ground. Wire brush them. A 20 yr old car will have some corrosion. My ten yr old car did. A weak battery will make the alt. work over time and make it fail.
Thanks for all the replies. I think it is one of two issues. 1. The ground may had been suspect so that has been addressed. 2. The alternators that are rebuilt I don't believe are as good as the originals. Next time maybe a toyota OEM or we have an excellent rebuild shop in town. Will probably go with the rebuild shop. He rebuild the starter on my boat and 10 years later is still works. Just takes more time for the rebuild shop to do the work but haste makes waste which was probably my problem. Sorry to hear about your transmission cressida. I would probably search out a used one as I had great luck doing this with Mercedes Benz diesel I owned before.
- Status
