Toyota Alternator Buyer's Guide
Looking for more information on Toyota alternators? You came to the right place. In this buyer's guide, you'll learn the following:
- What an alternator is and how it works
- How to diagnose a failing alternator
- How to replace an alternator
- How to choose between OEM and aftermarket replacement alternators
What Is An Alternator?
An alternator is a grapefruit-sized electrical component that sits in the engine bay. It charges the battery and produces power for your car’s electrical parts, including:
- Radio
- Power windows
- Power seats
This comprehensive guide on Toyota alternators provides a great explanation on:
- How an alternator works
- How an alternator goes bad
- How much an alternator costs
How To Know If Your Alternator Is Failing
Want to know how to diagnose a failing alternator without taking your Toyota to a shop? This diagnostic guide will walk you through the process. It also explains the following:
- Telltale signs of a failing alternator
- What causes an alternator to go bad
- How to inspect related parts
- How to check the alternator’s voltage with a voltage meter
How To Replace A Toyota Alternator
Save a couple hundred dollars on labor by learning how to replace your Toyota’s alternator yourself! The process generally involves:
- Disconnecting the battery cables
- Loosening the drive belt
- Disconnecting all the cables and wires from the alternator
- Removing the old alternator
- Installing the new alternator
Here’s a detailed tutorial for the Toyota Camry. If you have another Toyota model, you may still be able to follow the steps in that tutorial. But proceed with caution.
Are OEM Toyota Alternators Better Than Aftermarket?
Wondering if you should get an aftermarket replacement alternator instead of an OEM one? This comparison guide provides a lot of insight into OEM and aftermarket alternators. To sum it up, OEM alternators are the smarter choice because:
- OEM alternators are built with high quality materials
- OEM alternators are built to exactly the right size and power output specifications
- OEM alternators come with Toyota’s 12-month, unlimited mileage parts warranty
Written by Jason Lancaster