aahhh ok ............... so not the sort of thing that would require a mechanic to be involved on any other car
 
Maybe Toyota could have said we'll give the alternator a check & clean up when they fixed the rocker cover & sump a couple of months ago while they had all the stuff off, seeing as how it had been covered in oil .......................... plus I had asked them to let me know if anything else needed to be done.....................
they could have told me about worn & cracked belts, the cracked engine mounts, the dirty gearbox oil, etc, etc, etc............. that could have been changed while they had all the stuff off.......................  as was picked up by the mechanic yesterday & today when he was taking all the stuff off to get at the alternator.  He has shown me all the stuff & even I can see that it needs replacing.
 
Baby is spending the weekend in a new hospital.
 
aahhh well living & leaning. 
I'm just thankful that it didn't happen while I was away for the weekend or on a nice long drive.
 
Is all good.  Tax refund all spent before I get it tho.  :(

Alternator is fried.  Friendly mechanic sourced a new one.  I know some of you will say "nooo don't go aftermarket", but he took mine with him to make sure it will fit. 
 
He was initially putting my baby on the hoist to get the alternator out as a favour to the auto elec next door.  Then found all the other stuff.  He didn't have to do any of it, didn't need the work, but had the time.  He has called several times.  I called in there & whilst they were commenting on how little room there is, they were smiling (even before I said "that's my baby") & seeming to enjoy the challenge, so I'm feeling quite comfortable that they are looking after my her.  A "good" mechanic should be able to work on any car.  They could have just taken the alternator out, put a new one in & then let me find out later on about all the other stuff, but cared enough to tell me.
 
Again,.. I'm glad it happened now.  Before I spent the money on things like making the paint work look pretty again, new wheels, etc.  This stuff is more important.
 
 

Full marks to the workshop, and good that you've found a place to entrust your baby.  I agree, it wouldn't have taken a lot of effort on the part of the Toyota shop to give you a rundown, or even suggest a full check over.  Maybe they didn't want the work, or didn't feel capable of working on it.   

dennis the menace
Full marks to the workshop, and good that you've found a place to entrust your baby.  I agree, it wouldn't have taken a lot of effort on the part of the Toyota shop to give you a rundown, or even suggest a full check over.  Maybe they didn't want the work, or didn't feel capable of working on it.   

That's the problem with Toyota.  I did ask them for a full check over. 
Ah well............. this is one customer that won't be returning to them.

There's one on ebay now.  14 hours to go as at 5.30pm 5/7/2013

REDMR2RED
There's one on ebay now.  14 hours to go as at 5.30pm 5/7/2013

Nah all good. 
Plus if I'm looking at the one u suggest, it's for a turbo.  No good for my baby.

Hi guys,
My baby is just about ready for me to pick up.
Should I take the broken alternator?  Is it something that someone might want to re-build?  Or just leave it for them to toss in the bin?
 
 
 

NOOOOOOOO   
 
 
Alternator has failed.  At least it will be warranty. 
She will have to stay here at work until they have new one. 
Have her booked into my usual guy to have the clutch replaced on Monday tho.

What is it with you and alternators?
 
Really, an alternator is like any other electrical component on a motor vehicle - it's just a container for smoke.  When they fail, it is simply a leak, and the smoke has escaped.  If it's a big leak, that's when you have major problems.  The smoke can escape very quickly, and the coefficient of friction is very high.  This creates high heat, and often flames.
 
Simple, really.

dennis the menace
What is it with you and alternators?
 
Really, an alternator is like any other electrical component on a motor vehicle - it's just a container for smoke.  When they fail, it is simply a leak, and the smoke has escaped.  If it's a big leak, that's when you have major problems.  The smoke can escape very quickly, and the coefficient of friction is very high.  This creates high heat, and often flames.
 
Simple, really.

hhmmm thanks for explaining that.  I just got concerned when all the dash lights stayed on & the charging needle thingy went as high as it could and looked like it wanted to keep going.  They said that if I drove too far the battery could "blow up".  So she stays at work in the warehouse until they get the new Alternator (hopefully Thursday). And I'll drive 100mtrs so they can replace it.  Then take her to my usual mechanic on Monday for the clutch.
Things had been going AOK for ages.  Decided to book in for new clutch & then this happened.