Alternator Problem?

I was driving along one night, and out of no-where - my battery light, cat light, and my hazzard light in the tachomter gauge came on.

i wasnt sure what was causing the problem but i had a feeling it was somthing to do with the power due to the battery light

i ignored the light as i had to do some small journeys in the car, and on my way to a friends house, a car flashed me, and i didnt recognise the car, so i knew somthing wasnt right... it was then that i noticed my headlights were not on, so i pulled over and tried to turn them on but they were just flickering off and on, then my radio kept turning on and off, and my fan stopped blowing, this was when i knew the car was losing power.

i turned my car off and tried to start it but the car just "ticked" (the battery was obviously dead by this point), so i had to tow the car back home...

i charged my car's battery overnight and it started fine, i drove it to a garage and they tested the voltage of the battery and the garage said my alternator was broken.

however - after having a look on the forum - it appears the previous owner of my car had a brand-new alternator fitted just 2 years ago, which puzzles me as to why the alternator has broken already?

could it be something else? the belts? the battery?

the garage tested my alternator and told me that the alternator did not look that old - and that possibly - due to the car being an import - that the replacement alternator wasnt giving out a high enough output (telling me that imported supras use an alternator with a higher output) they also qouted me £240 excluding VAT for a new alternator, which i think is a little expensive - the genuine toyota alternator is £170 inluding VAT

really dont know what to do , hlep me out forum!

A poor earth could be the cause of the issues you're having, try cleaning and securing all the ground points and battery terminals.

http://www.internetwork.org.uk/manual/route/95elec_034.jpg

my car is currently at the garage so i cant have a look at my earth points just now, but i will - thanks for the info

if it helps any more, my car does make a strange noise when starting from cold but it disapears when the engine temperature is normal...

sort of like a whining noise, ball bearing maybe?

a rattling noise whem i turn my steering wheel aswel - although i think this is a seperate problem with the power steering pump

If you have an auto you should really have a higher output alternator IIRC. Not sure if that's TT only or not though.

It's very possible that the previous owner replaced the alternator with a non-OE part. If so it could be a not so good alternator that's been fitted hence why it hasn't lasted. Changing the alternator is a doddle though. I would recommend getting the car back, buying an alternator and fitting it yourself. Up to you whether you buy genuine or not but you can get the alternators on ebay for approx £130.

if it helps any more, my car does make a strange noise when starting from cold but it disapears when the engine temperature is normal...

sort of like a whining noise, ball bearing maybe?

Can you hear where in the engine bay the noise is coming? Are you able to post up a video?

a rattling noise whem i turn my steering wheel aswel - although i think this is a seperate problem with the power steering pump

Check PAS fluid level, top up if low and see if it makes a difference. If it has run low it could be the bearing has gone in the pump.

my car is an automatic, it is a non turbo

i'll try and have a look when i can, cheers for the info guys (y)

i purchased an alternator from ebay and it came in the post yesterday - i took it upto the garage and it wasnt compatable, the connector on the new one had three pins in the socket with a kind-of triangle allignment - however the alternator that i need uses a socket with 3 pins parallel to each other

i am in the process of returning the un-compatable alternator but im frustrated that i'm going to have to wait even longer to get my baby back :[

i was going to buy this used one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1997-SUPRA-MK4-MARK-4-N-A-ALTERNATOR-GENERATORR-/370563649963?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item56475091ab

but i wasnt sure if: 1. - it would be compatible, or 2. wether its genuinly working...

is there any where else (ideally a company that specialises in imported cars) that will have the exact alternator i need?

help is greatly appreciated, (p.s - appologies for my bad spelling haha)

I have some rebuilt and used alternators for sale, all tested, here. This WILL be the problem, it's a common fault. Check the water pump drain isn't dripping coolant into the alternator due to a knackered water pump. £60 for the stripped, cleaned and rebuilt one.