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From: News user on 3 Feb 2010 13:05
Hi there:

A few days ago as I was driving my 2005 camry the battery light came
on and thinking that the problem
was the battery (my battery had some leakage the last 2 years - i.e.
white "sugar" at the 2 poles but
working fine) I stopped at the local Sears to have my car checked.

There they found that the alternator belt was out of position; this
resulted from a lousy rotating cylinder attached
to the alternator. Thus, they replaced the belt (some small damage),
the entire alternator (they told me that its
rotating cylinder is not sold separately) and the battery (being bad).

Thus I have the following questions:

(a) It is ok to replace a Toyota battery with a DieHard Gold battery?
(b) Is it common that the rotating alternator cylinder is found lousy?
(c) Is this repair part of the warranty? My car is still under the
5year/50,000 miles initial warranty.

The amazing and quite dangerous thing was that this belt is part of
the power steering system;
it was very difficult to turn the car to park it at the local Sears -
and I am a strong person! ???

Thank you in advance,

/PB




From: ransley on 3 Feb 2010 19:56
On Feb 3, 12:05 pm, News user <ara...(a)gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi there:
>
> A few days ago as I was driving my 2005 camry the battery light came
> on and thinking that the problem
> was the battery (my battery had some leakage the last 2 years - i.e.
> white "sugar" at the 2 poles but
> working fine) I stopped at the local Sears to have my car checked.
>
> There they found that the alternator belt was out of position; this
> resulted from a lousy rotating cylinder attached
> to the alternator. Thus, they replaced the belt (some small damage),
> the entire alternator (they told me that its
> rotating cylinder is not sold separately) and the battery (being bad).
>
> Thus I have the following questions:
>
> (a) It  is ok to replace a Toyota battery with a DieHard Gold battery?
> (b) Is it common that the rotating alternator cylinder is found lousy?
> (c) Is this repair part of the warranty? My car is still under the
> 5year/50,000 miles initial warranty.
>
> The amazing and quite dangerous thing was that this belt is part of
> the power steering system;
> it was very difficult to turn the car to park it at the local Sears -
> and I am a strong person! ???
>
> Thank you in advance,
>
> /PB

Replace an alternator, did you take the old one with you, could you
get it because that doesnt sound right, The white on the terminals is
corrosion from a poor conection on the cables and the terminals not
being sealed, they are sealed when new so that to me means its had
work done. As to waranty all this may have been covered. Sears shops
in my area are independantly owned, one tried to screw me on a battery
and oil, I stopped payment and won against the shop. All of what you
describe doesnt sound right especialy the bad alternator pulley and
needing a new alternator. I think you should call toyota and see if
pulleys are sold seperatly, im sure they are, google it. What you got
wasnt cheap. And was it a Rebuilt alternator, thats another thing to
avoid like rebuilt starters and fleas.
From: News user on 3 Feb 2010 21:58

> Replace an alternator, did you take the old one with you, could you
> get it because that doesnt sound right,

Actually i did not think to ask for the old alternator.

> The white on the terminals is
> corrosion from a poor conection on the cables and the terminals not
> being sealed, they are sealed when new so that to me means its had
> work done.

For the first 3 years there was no corrosion, just for the last 2
years.
Is this a result of time or not?
"it had work done" means what exactly?
My car has only been at a local shop for the regular services only.

> As to waranty all this may have been covered. Sears shops
> in my area are independantly owned, one tried to screw me on a battery
> and oil, I stopped payment and won against the shop. All of what you
> describe doesnt sound right especialy the bad alternator pulley and
> needing a new alternator. I think you should call toyota and see if
> pulleys are sold seperatly, im sure they are, google it. What you got
> wasnt cheap. And was it a Rebuilt alternator, thats another thing to
> avoid like rebuilt starters and fleas.

I will - thank you.
From: hls on 7 Feb 2010 18:49

"News user" <arapis(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:cb32f77d-11ff-424b-aa2a-8ca47de187df(a)c10g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
> Hi there:
>
> A few days ago as I was driving my 2005 camry the battery light came
> on and thinking that the problem
> was the battery (my battery had some leakage the last 2 years - i.e.
> white "sugar" at the 2 poles but
> working fine) I stopped at the local Sears to have my car checked.

********Possibly your first mistake.
That "sugar" is a corrosion byproduct on your battery terminal. It can
cause a bad electrical connection, poor battery charge, etc.
>
> There they found that the alternator belt was out of position; this
> resulted from a lousy rotating cylinder attached
> to the alternator. Thus, they replaced the belt (some small damage),
> the entire alternator (they told me that its
> rotating cylinder is not sold separately) and the battery (being bad).

*******That "rotating cylinder" is probably your alternator pulley.
Bullshit they arent available separately. The battery may, or MAY NOT,
have been bad. The belt might well have been bad.




> Thus I have the following questions:
>
> (a) It is ok to replace a Toyota battery with a DieHard Gold battery?
***Yes, if your batter is bad to begin with.

> (b) Is it common that the rotating alternator cylinder is found lousy?
***Very few lice in the engine area. At this point you have no idea if
you have been boondoggled, or if they really found a problem.

> (c) Is this repair part of the warranty? My car is still under the
> 5year/50,000 miles initial warranty.

If you had a chance in hell of checking under warranty, why didnt
you take it to Toyota.. Sears sells panties.. Toyota, or a qualified
independent, works on cars.

>
> The amazing and quite dangerous thing was that this belt is part of
> the power steering system;
> it was very difficult to turn the car to park it at the local Sears -
> and I am a strong person! ???


***On most cars nowadays, the "serpentine" belt, or other belt arrangement,
operates the water pump,alternator, maybe even the fan, the power steering
pump,
etc etc. A loose belt, caused by stretching, glazing, or even by a bad
belt tensioner, can unleash myriad problems.

I dont know whether you got screwed or not. I suspect probably yes. They
may have "seen you coming".

Learn something about your car. It will save you tears and money. Find a
good
and reliable shop.. I never said dealership, because they can be corrupt as
hell.
A good dealership shop, or a good independent, can take care of your
problems
without humping you.

Entendido?

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