Hey guys, I know I haven't been on these boards in a long long time, I've been busy with school and the car, but I've came across two problems.

A while ago, I've noticed my voltage meter is a little past 13 at idle, and once the RPMs go up (even slightly) the voltage gauge rises up to near the 3/4 line. Friend of mine tells me it's the voltage regulator and am in need of a new alternator.

Onto problem #2:
I was to school today and the car was riding fine and then suddenly my amp and subs cut in and out a few times. Shortly after the car turned off then on (quickly, on its own) about 3 times. I also noticed that my temp gauge was at 210 only after about 5 minutes of driving. Luckily I made it home (I turned around and went home, having to skip class). I've never had/heard of anything like this before.

Are these two issues related or do I have two totally different problems going on?

 

JMO but I would think the temp going up that fast would be totally unrelated to the alt issue. Have you checked the coolant level? Could be thermostat sticking. Take the alt to your local Autozone, etc and they can check them.

 

I was going to bring in my alternator to AutoZone tomorrow, really what I am asking is...is problem #2 related to problem #1?

 

Got the alternator tested and they said everything is fine. Putting out the correct voltage and everything.

 

Hey my latest great story on a regulator, it was a blast kind of long but I like it!! My son also has a 4runner and the radio started making the engine buzz noise though the speakers, he had it tested at Pep Boys, nope not the Alternator! (The buzz noise # one is the regulator failing next is a bad short in the alternator windings or vehicle wiring) So within a few weeks the dummy lights would come on and stay on and the gauges were erratic during high revs. My son works at pep boys so he had it tested again and tells me once again, no Alt problem because they said so (arrrgh, my kid is hard headed!). (The regulator failing could also be overdriving your Amp)

A day or so later both head lights, three turn and marker lights, and two fuses burn out all at once, he replaced them and he had the Alt tested again, Alt still good. Now at this point that same day I'm test driving the 4runner, I can smell an electrical fire, pure luck on my part that I was there he couldn't smell the burning!! I'm getting over to the side of the road fast, he is grabbing pliers, we jump out, leaning way back I toss open the hood the Alternator is a little bon fire. At this point I asked him where the marshmallows were and was laughing, he didn’t get the joke!! While I’m un-hooking the battery he is getting me a water bottle to put out the Alternator. I also still had the piece of mind to say I told you so; some times the cheap shots are the best!

I have seen so many alternators fail, if the windings are going bad it just stops producing electricity may burn a little. When the regulator goes bad it gives Intermittent warning signs, odds are 80%+ that is what going on with yours. A regulator can fail in two ways, producing less then the designed voltage or more, and sounds like you're over producing!

As for the over heating the regulator could be surging and making your temp gauge jump, it is becoming way too hot, way too fast. The water pump could also be failing but solve one problem first they could be related!!

 

I should add your thermostat could also be stuck shut, but still it is heating up way too fast.

 

check the tightness of the battery cables. ive had some interesting encounters with loose ones. my camaro was losing fuel pressure and cutting out, but everytime i tested the pump it was ok, and even replaced it. then my stereo started going out. turned out to be a lose stud. my escort did something similar. low amperage items would work, but the car wouldnt start, then nothing would work for 5 minutes. loose batt terminal. my girl's camaro, the lights were pulsing. i thought maybe the alt went bad and was producing a/c voltage, the gauge was reading ok. she went 20 feet and the car cut off. loose cable.

as for the temp, you would need to run the engine nearly wot for it to reach that temp in 5 minutes. feel the upper radiator hose. if its burning hot and you cant hold it more than a second, then its really that hot. if its cold, the t-stat is stuck closed. if you can hold it for about 5 seconds before its too hot, thats right about normal temp range. dont always trust factory gauges