Alternator

Alternator removal and servicing

Alternator failure message

Alternator not charging

When the ignition is on, but the engines not yet started, the display will display (in English) "CHARGE" - this is normal. However, when the alternator is not charging, a message will be displayed in Japanese, which, when translated, means "Alternator not charging".

On some cars, this message may indicate a proble with, eg, the battery being due for replacement, and/or the battery connections being loose. On a Soarer, this message generally means what it says; there's insufficient charge coming from the alternator.

Other symptoms

Whilst the vehicle will run for some time without a working alternator, the battery will quickly be drained of power. When this occurs, various electrical functions will gradually stop working. This includes, eg, the active suspension. It has also been reported that the engine failure / cat warning light will come on

Confirm whether the alternator is faulty

As removal of the alternator is time consuming, please confirm whether the alternator is faulty before removing it. This can be done by checking battery, fuses, terminals, drive belt, wiring, voltage and current (under different engine RPM and electrical loads).

Precautions

Alternators (and batteries) are fragile and can be easily damaged by inappropriate treatment, including:

infrequent use of battery
disconnecting battery while engine running
running engine without battery connected
insufficiently charged battery
loose or corroded battery terminals

Check warranty conditions for alternators and batteries if in doubt. Refer eg: http://alternatorparts.com/warranty-return_policy.htm

Alternator removal

To remove the alternator:

Safety first: Disconnect the battery to ensure the vehicle is not inadvertently started
Find the alternator! (Follow the drive belt)

Somewhere under this, there's an alternator...

Drive belt paths. AL = Alternator, TP = Tensioner Pulley

Remove the cover from the Cruise Control actuator (the cover is held in place by three clips and should pull straight up) so that you can see what you’re doing and have more space to work

Cruise control cover

Air box removed

Remove the Air Cleaner Assembly (including the Intake Air Flow Meter and Air Cleaner Hose ("concertina pipe") by loosening one hose tie, removing 4 x bolts. 3 bolts in the front, and one in the rear, ). Loosening the hose clamp closest to the engine, then wiggling that end of hose loose works for me, after which the whole assembly can be slid backwards and lifted out.
Remove the vacuum hose that is in the way from the Intake Air Connector Pipe
Remove the second vacuum hose

Power steering reservoir bolts removed

Remove the 3 x bolts holding the side of the power steering reservoir (taking care not to lose the bushes that are now loose in the bolt-holes), which is necessary in order to wiggle the reservoir - and in particular the hose underneath it - towards the passenger side so that there is space for the long alternator mounting bolt to be removed.

Two other brackets to be removed

Remove the bracket holding the hydraulic line. It may be enough to loosen it so that it can be rotated away.

Alternator removal hydraulic pipe bracket

Remove the bracket holding the electrical connector from under the air box

Unbolted cable bracket under air box

Remove the front right mounting bolt from the alternator

Alternator front right bolt

Remove the serpentine belt (by pressing down on the serpentine belt tensioner pulley)

Serpentine belt tensioner pulley

Remove the front left (ie passenger side) mounting bolt from the alternator. You’ll need a 14mm socket or extension that is long enough to reach the recessed bolt, but not so long that you hit the fan etc

Alternator front left bolt

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Remove the rear alternator mounting bracket by removing the 14mm bolt from underneath the bracket. This can be hard to see, let alone reach with a tool that provides enough leverage as sockets do not easily fit and there is limited space even for a spanner. A 14mm ring spanner with an (improvised) extension (made by hooking on another spanner to the first one) can work. Ideally, a 14mm flexible head ratchet with a relatively short handle will fit and make it easy.

Alternator rear bracket

Alternator rear support bracket removed

Remove the electrical connection nut and cable

Alternator earth cable removed

Remove the electrical cable connector cover, then un clip and remove the cable

Alternator connector

Remove the alternator by turning this way and lifting it out

Alternator removal angle

The 3 x alternator mounting bolts are 14mm, the electrical connector is 12mm and most (all?) minor items to be removed use 10mm.

UZZ32 Alternators are unique

The UZZ32 Alternators differ from those on other Soarer models and are rated at 120A (whereas other Soarers are rated at ? 100A). Alternators from eg UZZ30, UZZ31 or SC400 are not suitable, and replacement parts can be difficult to find. However, some of the parts are interchangeable.

Alternator parts, part numbers and availability

There are thee items that primarily wear out on alternators:

brushes
regulator
rectifier

Part numbers, availability and substitutable parts

Toyota UZZ32 alternator parts
Item	Photo	Toyota Part Number	Availability	Alternatives
Brush / Brush holder		27370-75060		398203, 3982033
Regulator	Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination	27700-46040		IN438, 15-8351, WIL P7182
Diode Rectifier	Error creating thumbnail: Unable to save thumbnail to destination	27357-50070	Discontinued	Transpo CN-INR736-0073, 31127PY3013

The regulator is same as for UZZ31, but the diode rectifier is not available anymore (for the UZZ32). However a 90-92 alternator for a MR2 happens to have near identical parts from its Nippon Denso alternator. Whilst the alternator itself isn't a fit, the diode rectifier, the brushes and the regulator are. I canibalised a MR2 alternator and rebuilt my one.

Source: http://www.jkwebdesign.net/lsocbb/viewtopic.php?t=9824&highlight=&sid=8b2b6c4b1d783e020bd4c73eca24a93f

Rectifier is 32 specific with right angle rear external connection, not straight out as with the 31, which has the big terminal bolt on the side).

Source: http://www.soarerworld.com/forum/showthread.php?30553-32-

http://www.lexuspartsnow.com/parts/lexus-regulator-assy-generator~27700-46040.html http://www.partswebsite.com/autopartspeople/oemparts/toyota-155/2735750070.html

Search on web for compatible parts, eg.

price $24 IN438 Regulator • 12 Volt, A-Circuit, S-IG-L Terminals, 14.5 Vset, 5 sec. LRC • Denso IR/IF Alternators • Replaces - DENSO 126000-1110, 126000-1260, 126000-1270, TOYOTA 27700-46030, 27700-46040

Additional reference and details: