Need Cheap Alternator

Rjm3 · Post by **Rjm3** » Tue May 15, 2007 9:10 am

Well, I'm in dire need of an alternator for my 88 terc. Problem is, ive extremely limited on money and they're $165 e/e here. Ive searched the few junk yards around me and they dont even have any tercels. I was wondering if any of you had one on a parts car or an old one sitting around that you could sell me for cheap. it only has to work for a month or so, so i can start getting to work again. Thanks.

keith · Post by **keith** » Tue May 15, 2007 5:58 pm

Try going back to the junkyard with your old alternator in hand and check all Toyota's. These are fairly universal and interchangeable.

Another alternative, possibly the better choice would be to put new brushes in your current one. If it spins freely, no bearing problems, then brushes should only be a few dollars and I've heard that they are pretty easy to replace in this alternator. Search this site for other postings on alternators, I vaguely remember someone explaining how to do it.

Gasoline Fumes · Post by **Gasoline Fumes** » Tue May 15, 2007 11:22 pm

Changing brushes is very easy. Once you get the end cap off, it's pretty obvious how to change them. Two phillips screws, if I remember correctly. Use a relatively new screwdriver, a worn out one will strip the screw heads.

Worn brushes usually cause intermittent charging, like maybe only at high RPM.

Rjm3 · Post by **Rjm3** » Wed May 16, 2007 8:28 pm

[quote="keith"]Try going back to the junkyard with your old alternator in hand and check all Toyota's. These are fairly universal and interchangeable.

Another alternative, possibly the better choice would be to put new brushes in your current one.

well, i went to the junkyard a few times before hand and they tell me they dont have ANY toyota's out there. this is comping from the owner. some of the workers tell me after he says this that there are a few older tercels out back there. for some reason he hasn't let me go out back into the junkyard for about a year. im guessing its because im younger and he thinks im going to destroy things. anyways, where would i go about getting new brushes?

keith · Post by **keith** » Thu May 17, 2007 5:22 pm

You should be able to get brushes at any autoparts store. There is actually only one brush. Looks like three screws total to change it. I haven't bought a brush for an alternator in a long time, but the last time it was only about $6. Probably more now.