oh goody...an electrical gremlin

[Petros]

Not so fast there jon! If you had an external voltage regulator mounted on the fender behind the battery, you might have bigger problems than just the alternator.

The likely reason the plug was cut out by the PO is he did not know (or did not care) there are two different alternators for this year car, one internal regulated and one external. Toyota intentionally used different connectors to prevent this kind of mix up, but the cleaver PO thwarted the thoughtful Toyota engineers by cutting off the connector.

I do not know the consequences of installing an internally regulated alternator on a system designed to use the external one, but it can not be good. The wire bundle is different, as is the connectors. So either you need to use the correct alternator for this car, or you study the differences in the wiring of the two different installations, and modify your wiring harness so you can use the internal voltage regulated alternator. DO NOT just install an internally regulated alt on to a system designed to use external regulators. You could get too much voltage and fry your radio....

[Tercel__jon]

Dont worry, Im getting the externally regulated one. You know...whats SUPPOSED to be there. lol.

This alternator has been on the car since I bought it. I found where they recorded everything on the rear pages of the manual. Its been on there for the past 80k miles. Theres also "orange county CA" stickers on the alternator. So I presume it was replaced when the PO's wife drove to california.

I was able to test the external voltage regulators again and they tested out fine.

The car in the junkyard is externally regulated. Ill be getting the plug off of it so everything on mine will be like it should.

You wouldnt be able to grab a picture of the wiring behind your alternator would you petros? Like where it connects to the main harness?

[Petros]

all (three) of mine are internal regulators, the harness is different so I am not sure it will do you much good.

It is simple enough however, you can figure it out from the wiring diagram for your car.

BTW, if the alternator is still available off the one on the wrecking yard you might just get that and save some money. These alternators are pretty reliable so used ones are much less cost are good bets. You can have Autozone or NAPA test it for free before you install it (on the way home from the wrecking yard).

Unless you get a new one from the same supplier as Toytota, likely a rebuilt or aftermarket alternator is just as risky as a used factory one. But they would cost much more.

[Tercel__jon]

If I had the money and wasnt being pressed for time I would have grabbed it. I will grab it next time Im down there which should hopefully be sometime soon. I actually called napa and had them order one for me since rockauto wouldnt be able to get me one until friday and I need the car asap. Only issue will be figuring out the wiring. I should be able to do it. Starter will be in first thing in the morning.

I have a feeling Ill start hording these parts so I dont have to keep traveling to the yard to pull them.

[Tercel__jon]

Ok so I have the new alternator. After searching through the FSM I found the wiring diagram and everything is as it should be. XD

Thanks petros.