Something I admire about your vids is the fact that you go the extra mile to teach and show us all the possible roads to get to the same place. Yes, it was quickly deduced the battery and alternator had gone kaput, but still you showed different methods to be sure about that... Diagram, amp clamp, scope..... No stone was left unturned!!! Hats off to you!!! Thanks!

I've seen techs get that moaning noise confused for power steering noise, when it's bad diodes in the alternator. Great video Ivan!!

For a vehicle to have that many miles and no complaints is pretty good. I think Mark Thomas nailed it, that dude was shorted internally. Good to see your videos Ivan, I really look forward to them.

Thanks for sharing your willingness to learn when a chance presents itself. That inspires and makes videos like this a win/win. Thanks Ivan!

Nice job Ivan. I will admit that I was geeking out a little bit on those negative amp wave forms

Awesome video, Ivan!!! My mother bought a new highlander in 2015. Long life vehicles.

Nice job Ivan. That poor alternator screaming then flat lining..... Lol Cars do have souls! :)

Cool video Ivan. Glad you brought us along. I have the same meter and the owners manual says to disconnect the leads before using the amp setting but you just switched between volts and amps with no problem.

Love your toyota videos. Two in a row!

Hey Bro Don’t sweat the guys hating on your camera work or not explaining all of the intimate details of voltage/current readings. Honestly I’ve come to respect your videos for being a little raw.... true to life more like it. When things are too polished it gives an unrealistic view that you simply walk up to the vehicle plug in your scanner and walk away with a clear cut 100% diag in a few moments. Seeing you struggle through the internal thought process is both interesting and entertaining to me. Besides there’s this confidence you portray.... any guy that can get a following like yours without even combing his hair. I love it!! Keep it up.

the rectifier in the alternator is shorting inside straight to ground.

Nice seeing what the waveforms looked like. When the alternator goes that bad it usually takes the battery with it, especially if it's got some time on it.

Nice diagnosis Ivan! Rectifier bridge diodes bad which accounts for your battery drain and excessive AC ripple. Walmart replacing the battery was nice so customer now has a new charging system.

Nice scopeage Ivan. Thanks

nice work Ivan went smooth as cooking up your soup ☺

nice fix like always. thanks for showing that info on the pico

Hi Ivan, love your stuff. educational entertainment. checking for AC voltage is a quick way to check the diode function. cheers Steve

Nice one Ivan.

Don't tell Scotty that there's a Toyota that developed a problem...he might have an aneurysm. ;) Great diagnosis!

IVAN,good work as always keep'm rolling and thanks for sharing. cheeeeeeers

I was hoping , since you smelled something burning , and the alternator was screaming you would put your hand on it , to see how hot it was, if it had a fever , than its sick!

I’ve had toyota since 2013; and it has been so dependable.

wow! the NOCO has a magic button just like the Loadpro! cool!

I have a 2000 Camry, bought from carmax with 7500 miles on it. Now has over 150K, was submerged in a flood over seat panels in 2016. No water in engine or transmission, but insurance refused to fix and totalled it. Gave me $4500, bought back for $450. Pulled interior, cleaned it up, all wet connectors cleaned and lubed, power seat switch replaced. AC clutch moans a little, especially when NOT engaged. $18 bearing, too hard to replace right now. Drove car four more years now, bearing no worse in noise, AC still ice cold. Replaced alternator thinking it was responsible for noise, but it wasn't. Car looks and smells like new inside. Still an awesome performer V6. Needs struts and a timing belt job. People think those V6 engines aren't worth all the trouble to work on, but this one is still on original plugs and wires, runs excellent, smooth idle. Best car we ever owned, will be my teenage daughter's first car when I do the struts and timing belt job myself. Oh yeah, I had to clean the MAF once and replace one O2 sensor. Great car.

I didn't want to bother you with my problem with my 2004 Toyota Highlander 4 cylinder, but after looking and looking and finding nothing, I'm now desperate. Occasionally ALL my dash lights will come on and go off..or at least some will come on & most will go off. I remove the - battery terminal to clear the other lights and that works..for a while..this all started with the battery light. After testing with my multi-meter and seeing and over charge condition, I had the voltage regulator changed. .but! later..I found my multi meter was defective!( damn). I've pulled interior panels and covers from front to back expecting to see corrosion or chewed wires from a mouse. They all look brand spanking new. Don't know where t go from here. Thanx for your videos. I think your logical step by step approach is just what I need. I'd bring it to you by I'm too far away. Suggestions?

All that`s needed to spice this up is some video of "Toyota Jan" doing a little dance. Good job Ivan.

Nice video 👍, would be cool for you to explain a bit more when working on electrical for those who aren't too familiar with electrical and amperage draw

Great video Ivan. Thank you. Since I am not familiar with the scope output as you showed with the old alternator/battery it would have been nice if you could have shown what the wave forms looked like with the new alternator/battery as a comparison for educational purposes. Paul

Thank you Ivan excellent video

Troubleshooting a 2010 Tundra's charging system. Thank you Ivan

Hi Ivan, If you disconnect the connector on the alternator of a Nissan Juke, and then the charging goes back up to 13.9v when it was 12v connected. What would be the next step of the diagnosis? Please help sir?

just wondering was it the battery that caused the alternator to go bad by using too much juice on account of high internal resistance ?

Now that's Toyota quality we know and love. You can tell the customer really looked after their car engine was running sweet as a nut.

Unparalleled Tenacity! I agree with viewer below, a comparison wave form of Good & Bad Alt. could have been one more tool in your tool box. It’s OK to show off a little. Nice Job.

very good ivan

What if i disconnect the battery + and -.And then disconnect all cables that go to the alternator and test with DVOM set in 'diodes mode'.Next put the red lead on alternator charging post and black lead on alternator case..If it's not open loop then we have bad diode bridge.Is it the same test?

Good job, thanks for sharing.

Current clamp switches to ac ---> alternator output is ac due to bad diodes in the rectifier bridge. The battery acts as a big capacitor smoothing out that ripple.

When the alternator died on my '83, the battery had just enough juice to get me back to the parking lot, lol.

Great Video Ivan, Ivan do you use Pico starter test there you get battery test and alternator test with voltage, amperage, and ripple at one time also starter is included. I like when you use Pico a lot of details. By the way, starter test, in this case, is maybe not the way to go with a jump pack on the car

Good job Ivan! I was hoping to see the picoscope waveform after the fix for comparison.

I have an 07 highlander with a fairly new alternator and battery. good charge until you turn on climate control and it drops to around 10v at battery. do i condemn the alternator?

My batt . light came on a couple of days ago . Alt. not charging . I figured out that if i rev it up to 4000 rpm the light goes off and itb starts charging untill the next time I start it. Charges everytime Ive done this which is about 6 times so far . 2003 Toyota Sequoia 4.7 . Any ideas would be a big help . Thanks

Ivan what amp/multimeter are you using? I see so many different brands from 30-500 dollars. I am just a shade tree/ garage DIY mechanic that doesn't call for spending that much money for a full lab scope like a Pico.

With a bad diode, that could lead to the alternator putting out A/C current which is probably why you had those negative numbers showing on the pico.

Some of this alternators have a clutch type pulley and if its the case that was the squealing noise and maybe that is why it was charging at times...

Glad to see a new battery many make the mistake and start the vehicle on a low charged battery cooking the new alternator in no time as the brushes havent had a chance to break in like they should.

My 93 ford f-150 5.0 has Fluctuating rpm's and constant backfire, replaced failing fpr,iac and tps, please help.thks

I noticed u r using the Snap On leads on your Craftsman multimeter. That meter is really cool. It has starred in almost all your videos before u had Launch, Verus and Pico. U started with MaxiDas. Correct? Thanx Ivan!!

My 2001 Toyota Highlander had the same problem was the alternator good as new now

Hey btw where did you get the bike rack

Hey Ivan, what is the model of your Craftsman meter clamp? Great job confirming the problem!.

'Brand New' Remanufactured Alternator?...Lol....I like it🤣

falto colocar el traductor ,,,lo felicito muy buen vídeo

Good video 200,000 MLS, alternator has done well. Deserves a new alternator.

Ivan I would be very surprised if that battery in the sad condition it was in did not cook that reman alternator within two days, right.

Amp clamp defaulted to AC Amps why? Maybe it is designed that way. Some default to DC.

Our Highlander 2007 4 cylinder keeps messing up alternators. We've changed it twice in 6 months and the last time was only a week and a half ago. My cars Chevy Cobalt 2005 died while driving up a hill.

mine has a new alternator with no output. ignition off 1 wire at alternator has battery voltage, ignition on then 2 wires have 12V.... red wire never has voltage, even when running

check the voltage at the battery termnal and then check the coltage at the altinator terminal and then you will know where to look in case of a shorted wire on the unibody frame. you thought me this.

it's worth saying you need to be careful with an unstable battery they can and do explode and that's no joke

Nowadays batteries can die instantly, but check the CCA after charging the battery. But i think you need a rebuild alternator.

Does it make anyone else sad that never again in human history will engines be made as good as those V6 Toyota units? Nice Diag Ivan. Seen several cases of bad voltage regulators in Toyota alternators on the high mileage shitboxes i look after. Never seen one go that bad before.

HEEEEEEEEYYY Mr WIZARD!! 🧠🧠👏👏👏

Mine has no power to the interior or fuse box under the dash.. headlights turn on... doesn't crank or start.. no lights on the dash at all... just blickimg security alarm light

Hi Ivan, where did you get your diagram?

I just baught 07 highlander v6 3.3 just like yours It is good For towing Im thinking to Install tow hitch and Tow Small cars with tow Dolly what you think ?

Wow Dude that Battery has a massive surface discharge.. On a Side note couldn't help but notice how nice your beard looks, let me know if you want a 'Straight Razor shave', its a Fun Hobby; been at now since 2011..

You can easily check the diodes when you pull the alternator out by putting your ohm meter on the battery post on the back of the alternator and the case of the alternator. You should get continuity in one direction only. I'll bet it was flowing pretty good in the wrong direction. And, no way that reman alternator from Napa will last another 200K miles. The last Napa reman I put on my 98 Nissan 200SX barely lasted 30K. Fortunately, I got a lifetime warranty on the first one and they gave me another one...they didn't want to and I had to push it based on all the old paperwork I had.

Ivan. Wish you were here in california

regulator probably failed first, causing uncontrolled full output, which killed one or more diodes, then dead battery from it draining it. usually when it occurs, the "idiot" light wont come on. alternative, customer ran battery dead, jump started and alternator cooked from large vehicle load + trying to charge battery. of course, always unhook the alternator and check vehicle itself just to be sure and the battery was probably harmed from the deep discharge.

i have a question no body can seem to answer and it's came in twice at my shop now. I'll be honest, i did a lazy diag but it was a fairly easy one. Vehicle stalled out & only cranks, when you spray carb cleaner in the breather it'll start for a sec then die out. you'd automatically think fuel problem correct? turns out after replacing the fuel pump & diagnosing fuel I'm like wait, what if this isn't even a fuel problem. check spark, zero spark. my question is if its getting fuel with no spark, then how on earth does spraying carb cleaner get it to attempt starting. long post but please answer. thanks!!

That battery probably burnt up the alternator if I'm not mistaken. Shorted so heated up the charging circuit. chi-na stuffs....damn.

High ripple voltage, rectifier shorted to ground!

I'm surprised no fuses blew.

I've had ok luck with Everstart batteries.. have one in my town car now it's from 2009.. can still pull over 400 amps from it

вопрос Вольво 2.4 дизель 2007 год искали в чем проблема вибрации приводного ремня генератора...чтобы убедиться что проблема из за ремня (шум на холостом ходу) Сняли ремень..завели...и лампа зарядки на панели приборов погасла. Это Как? в итоги поменяли для начала ремень....потом натяжитель.Не помогло В итоге оказалось проблема в шкиве генератооа (при проверке на снятии ремне он крутился как новый) А точнее в якобы во встроенном в шкив сцеплении. Почему погас индикатор зарядки при снятом приводом ремне осталось загадка. Допускаю что заряжает аккумулятор периодически...в целях экономии топлива. а по видео жалко конечно что обошлось без горелой проводки Будем ждать... :-)

The scope on this one made as much sense as looking for a pulse on a decomposing body.

Nice !

Sometimes batteries that are shorting out internally will draw a lot of current and If you put your hand in the side of the battery after the car has been running for half an HR the battery casing gets hot, this is loading the alternator and if allowed to continue, will exceed the output safe limit, And in most cases destroy, The output Diodes. May not happen with computer controlled charging systems.

why did the car shut off when you turned off your battery? Fuel pump went out? Wouldn't there still be some fuel in the engine?

Definitely safety third testing a charging system with a questionable battery!! Lucky it didn't blow up in your face! Must have a known good battery to check a charging system! Being that the alternator needs battery voltage to create the magnetic field and charge!

Looks like alternator brushes are loosing contacts with the rings (brushes worn out).

I would have replaced that squealing alternator regardless of how it was charging.

My wife got stuck with her 06 Highlander. I put a new battery in it, so I could drive it home. I ordered a new alternator from a dealer, because the battery light was still on after I put the new battery in.

Do you reckon the Alternator killed the battery?

Nice one, Ivan. I mean, it's a Toyota vid so yea nothing too crazy. ;) But you spiced it up nicely with some waveforms. I just did one of these on an ES330 (same drivetrain). Exact same fix, new alternator and battery. When the alternator fails like this, it usually takes the battery out with it, especially if they got some some age on them. As for that reman, they are a crapshoot, but what can you do? Surely won't do 200k like the original one, that's for sure haha. And in my personal experiance, those Wal-Mart batteries are the best of the bunch. Every now and then I see cars come in with those over 5 years old and they are still truckin. I've never seen another brand do that. Of course I personally think all aftermarket batteries suck but the Everstarts seem to hold that record at least down here in South Florida where it doesn't get cold. I use and install Advance Auto batteries simply because the stores are all over and it makes warranty claims (which is often) more convenient no matter where the client is left stranded.

Not bad for almost 200,000 miles if that was the original alternator. I have a 2006 highlander and my alternator went out at 104,000 miles.

was this video noco paid- it still works for me, good one .

"Never Start brand from walmart"! ROFLMAO!!!

sounds like the voltage regulator build into the alternator is the problem, as it was going in and out of votlage. Just my opinion

Those waveforms are REVOLTING!!

Paid 7,000 for my Toyota, and have driven it for 19 years. 275,000 miles, 1 afm, ball joints, 6 sets of tires. A/C still blows cold, original clutch. Ta Ta Ta Toyota

I hate Walmart as much as the next guy, but you're wrong about Walmart batteries. For the price, they're the best battery on the market. Read some objective battery test reviews before publicly shaming a brand. Besides great quality for the price, they warranty them for full replacement better than most places. Anyhow, I'd have loved for you to actually have explained in the video what failed in the alternator if you want to educate your viewers. Even the alternator hum/whine was a failure indicator. nonetheless, good video. became aware of you after you visited Eric at South Main.

If you have a bad alternator that kills a battery, get the alternator fix before bringing the battery for warranty. Shop/Store will void the warranty on a battery if they test the charging system and find it to be the reason why the battery is dead.

"NeverStart brand" LOL!

Ivan, I am really surprised by your approach here. Gee, lets sit there and watch the alternator fry. "Kool!" "Neat!" Charge a dead battery with the alternator! But the exhaust is mint! Needs an alternator! "Wicked kool!" Really Ivan, my approach would have been to remove and try a slow charge on the battery as it was totally dead. If and when it appeared to be charged, I would then do a load test on the battery, as it could either be internally shorted or have limited capacity. In this case, I am going to assume that Wal-Mart 's finding of a defective battery was correct and install a new battery, calling an internally shorted battery the root cause of the complaint. THEN - I would check the alternator output, ripple, etc, under load. If the alternator checks good at that time, given the mileage on the vehicle, I would strongly caution the customer that the battery failure has certainly put a heavy strain on the alternator and would recommend alternator replacement as a preemptive move to avoid what could be a soon - to - follow complete alternator failure (and a come back). Of course, if the alternator was DoA, I would inform the customer that the battery failure took out the alternator and that replacement was mandatory to effect a successful repair. Maybe I am too prejudiced from the 1990s and that "Great GM Feeling" I got with the CS series alternators that were running at 90% output, 100% of the time, when the battery was in great shape.

200k i'm assuming that was a Denso alternator? If so, that's a decent run.

thnaks, u & eric o. the best, you past me by im in bklyn.

Step one, replace bad battery, then you can properly test alternator. But in this case alternator whining with all the other noise, All indications show bad battery and alternator, wasting a lot Of time testing what is obvious!