1991 Toyota Corolla Just will not charge?

RICKSTER632003

MEMBER
1991 TOYOTA COROLLA

Electrical problem
1991 Toyota Corolla 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic

The car was doing fine I had the AC on and the fan was blowing hard and all of a sudden the fan was not as hard and the AC was not as cold no engine light came on and I was going shopping, after I was done shopping I got into the car and I went home I was not using the AC because I thought that it might be low on freon, but the car died and I checked the voltage in the battery and it was at 10.30 volts and was not enough to restart the car I jumped the car and got it running agin and tested the voltage and it was not chargeing I had expected 13-15 volts but there was no charge at all, I took the alt to Oriley`s
and put it on the growler and it passed all 3 tests
so I started up yhe motor and pulled the positive post off and it died I tested all of the fuses that I could find and they all tested ok and it still will not charge is there some fuses that I dont see? Or is there a seperate voltage regulater and where is it located coul it be that the alt will test fine as long as there is not a load put on it?

11 Replies

MMPRINCE4000

MECHANIC
8,548 POSTS

NEVER take a battery cable off while engine is running.

If alt. Tests OK, then there is a relay/fuseable link blown in the fuse box's under hood, on drivers side.

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Monday, March 2nd, 2009 AT 6:56 AM

RICKSTER632003

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6 POSTS

You say That there is a fusible link. Is it like a Ford fusable link or is it just a fuse? Please tell me where it is so I may find and fix I did not see any under the hood because I have taken out and checked all of the fuses with a oum meter and they all tested fine. Please help me in this matter.
Also the fans for the Radiator and the AC are running and the engine is not even warm should they be running or is there a problem besides not charging?

Updated 3-1-09
Thank you for your reply but I still have the problem and the fusible link that was talked about is it like what is on a ford? Or is it a actual fuse it self? Because I have checked each and every one also I have noticed that both fans AC and radiator come on and engine is not even warm? I pull the fuse and they stop and I replace them hopping that they will reset and they dont they still run could this be part of the problem to? Or are they supposed to run all the time?

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Monday, March 2nd, 2009 AT 9:17 AM

MMPRINCE4000

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If fans are running all the time then the fan switch is disconnected or bad. The fan switch is located under dist. On thermostat housing. It is a one wire, white connector. If disconnected or switch is bad, fans will run all the time.

If fan switch is connected, then change fan switch. If problem persists, change "engine main" relay in fuse box.

The fuseable links are in the fuse box in engine compartment. They are pink and you can see the fuse through a window in the fuseable link.

Go to junk yard and get both fuse box assemblys, from a junked 90-92 Toyota Corollla or Geo Prizm.

This will give you all you need to fix problem without buying all the fuses/fuseable links/relays from Toyota which can add up to a lot of money.

Voltage regulator is internal on this nippondenso alt.

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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 8:07 AM

RICKSTER632003

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6 POSTS

I thank you for that info. You say that it is under the fuse block in that case if I was to open it up, I would look at the wire that comes from the charge fuse?Right and it would go back to the Pos Post. And why would they put a fusable link between a fuse and the Positive Post? If this dont work I will have to get to the junk yard to get those parts, Now that will be just the main fuse block or should I get the compleat wireing harness? For under the hood that goes into the fire wall? Because I realy do not want to cut and splice creates a problem down the line with crodeing and I will be right back to where I am at, What makes the fusable link go? I know of no power surge or heavy load all I did was normal useage and made a left turn when it went, will vibrations make it go? You know dirt and gravle roads? AGIN THANKS FOR THE HELP I would love to give a donation but right now I am totaly straped and I dont know how I will pay my bills this month.

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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 9:51 AM

MMPRINCE4000

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There are two fuse box's. You do not have to cut any wires to remove them.
They have connectors that you squeeze tabs and remove. I picked up both of them last year for $20 total.
Fuseable links are designed to protect the electrical system and prevent the wires from burning, which would be a MAJOR repair and cost a load of money.

Just get the fuse box's, one large one near the strut tower and a smaller one in front of it.

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Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 AT 10:17 AM

RICKSTER632003

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6 POSTS

I did as you said to do and it did not change, I replaced both fuse box and the smaller one dont unclip as the bigger one does And it still wont charge. I have noticed that the Batt light does not light up when you turn on the key, all of the others do. Does the charge go through the dumby light and then to the battery? So if this is the case will I need to dig into the wireing harness and trace that wire? Or is there a simpler way?
Please help here I am about to set it a blaze!
Is there any more fusible links?"

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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 6:23 PM

MMPRINCE4000

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Check the fuse box in the inside left kick panel, if ok, then you will have to check the wiring to the fuses, and fuse boxes.
Disconnecting the battery cable with the engine running, is probably the main cause, the power generated by the alt. Has to go somewhere.

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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 8:26 PM

RICKSTER632003

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6 POSTS

I pulled the pos batt cable after this was doing it, and I had not done it before this was a problem I did it as a test to see if it was charging as you would do to a Ford or Chevy you pull the pos cable and it is running the Alt is working I had no Idea that Toyota`s where that sensitive and I will keep that in mind.
So I will have to tear through the wireingharness
is there a way that you can give me the placement of these fuses in the kick pannel because the paper that was in that conpartment is no longer readable
and what the amp rating would be of great help.
If you are able to help me in this I will try my best to get up some money to send you a donation because you have helped so much already, to bad I wasted that money on those fuse boxes, I got them both for $ 50.00 that is the price you pay in a small township every thing is expensive. I could have used some of that for a donation

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Thursday, March 5th, 2009 AT 8:42 PM

MMPRINCE4000

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You did not waste that money, some of those relays are over $100 from Toyota, you may need them someday.

Pull the fuses from the kick panel one at a time, test them with a multimeter, if good put back in.

You can also buy a fuse tester and assortment from autoparts stores for under $20.

When inspecting wiring harness, look for obvious burns/melting.

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Sunday, March 8th, 2009 AT 6:18 AM

RICKSTER632003

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Thank You for your help, I did not know that they would cost so much. Now I have some spares,
should I start looking Inside the car first or should I start under the hood first? As I look at the wireing harness?

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Sunday, March 8th, 2009 AT 12:22 PM

MMPRINCE4000