Dashboard lights & alarm on start-up

I've got a '94 LH113 with 50k miles on the clock. She runs fine and has just completed a 1200 mile holiday without any issues.

Recently when you start her the dashboard displays several lights and a beeping alarm sounds. These all go out and the alarm stops when you depress the throttle and you can hear a click from the engine area when this happens.



Oil and radiator are both topped up.

Should I be worried about this? Thanks in advance for replies.

Check that you've got just under 14V off the alternator at idle. Read either on here or one of the other fora that low voltage can cause this to happen.

I think the other person found it was a loose alternator earth strap.

Cheers,

Rob

Check the tension of the alternator belt(s)

All suggestions pointing to the alternator....

Hi Muzzat,

how did you fix your problem in the end ? I ve got the exact same issue with the exact same lights. I just have to depress a liiiiiittle the throttle and it s all fine......

it seems related to the alternator, but not sure what to check exactly

thanks !

David

Belts first.

oh thanks Clive !
just realized you mentioned that in your previous message !

Hi again,

I'm now full time on my hiace for the final check up.
Still have this issue with dashboard lights. So at first, I had to depress slightly the throttle to switch off both the alarm and the lights.
but 4 months later (I was back in the UK, and the van is in the south of France, so the vehicle didn't move), it's getting worse !
Same alarm and lights, but depressing the throttle is not enough I have to drive at around 10mph to switch off the lights/alarm.
I've got someone working on my hiace at the moment (I need to replace the timing belt) and he told me the alternator is dead. Mileage is 82000, but the van is from 1994, how to be sure the alternator is dead and it's not coming from something else ? I don't expect an alternator to die by itself if not in use and I was expecting the same behaviour after 4 months.
Looking for parts, it seems impossible to find another one in Uk or in France.
This is a hiace cruising cabin 1994, LH119V-RRPES.
Any help welcome guys, thanks !

David

We've just had a new alternator in our 1994 HiAce, so I guess it"s not unheard for them to fail. Our local garage was able to source a new unit for us without difficulty, although the price was a bit eye-watering (£270 fitted).

We didn't have the dashboard lights problem, but an auto electrician ran some diagnostics, and it wasn't putting out enough current to keep the leisure battery topped up.

Cheers,

Rob

Hi Rob,

do you know which alternator you have in your hiace ?
Mine is 27060-54220, I'm wondering if I could fit another one.
I sent a message to startermotor-alternator and they don't have this one : "Unfortunately I cant identify it by the part number (this is fairly common for HiAce/Lux ,they made up a lot of part numbers for these units, almost on the fly)"

cheers,

David

I believe it was a Denso unit, but unfortunately no longer have the part number to hand.

Have you tried checking www.toyodiy.com - it may give a different part number for your model that might be easier to identify a replacement from.

Cheers,

Rob

The windings (expensive part) are fairly hardy, the rectifier and other electrical bits at the back are prone to die. These are just electrical bits radily available at any auto electricians or even electrical outlets such as Maplins. Get the autonator to a good auto leccy if you are not confident yourself, or like me can't solder, should be a few pounds rather than a few hundred.

Too many mechanics want to scrap and replace rather than fix it. Vent vent, Okay of my soap box now!

I was tempted to give this a go, but in the end ran out of weekends before the first big away days of the season. That and the skeptical looks from Mrs. BFG. She still remembers the lack of passenger side floor in my Morris Minor...

ok thanks guys, I'm gonna hunt for a good auto electrician, hopefully we'll be able to repair it.....
part number from toyodiy is 27060-54220, but I didn't find anything on the web with this number !
I did a test with the epc program but it's a bit confusing...... and I don't get the same number ?!

David

Toyodiy will list the part as fitted on date of manufacture, EPC will list the latest compatable, it should also list the original.

Hey Clive,

so I could replace it with one listed on EPC ? awesome
thanks !

Take your VIN no into Toyota and get them to cross check.

To follow on this, our alternator was dead, Toyota France had a tough time to find the part, and they finally gave us a reconditioned alternator 270605422084, for our cruising cabin 1994 (engine 3L). Only 60A, but it does the job ! 200euros and 4h to replace it.
On a side note, we had the dashboard alarm + all the lights when idle. First thing, we increased the tension on the belt. The alarm disappeared, but there was no light at all on the dashboard.....hmmm
We went to Toyota France for a checkup, and they told us the alternator was shot. Amazing how many miles you can drive these things with the batteries ! We did almost 500 miles in 4 months, with no alternator !
2 months later........we have our new alternator, new accessory belt, and we're back on the road !

I had exactly the same problem, new alternator fixed it.

Hi all

Noticed when I got in the van a similar problem as you have . Four lights on and nothing wrong with it a week ago. Took it down our garage and they done all the computer testing, and funny enough all systems are working as they should be.
We've had a shed load of rain lately and I don't use the van anywhere near as I did since the new company took over.
I think may water has got onto a circuit somewhere nut not in a rush.