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Alternator failure this early?

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by Alloutdrs1, Feb 14, 2020.

  1. Feb 14, 2020 at 11:24 AM
    #1
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    Trucks a 2017 @ 52k miles, started making like a whining/resonating noise once up to operating temp. Decided to take it into the dealer to see what it was incase it was something internal. They are claiming alternator and replacement to the tune of $1038.27...gotta love Toyota.

    So has anyone else heard of a failure this early in life? How bad is an alternator install on these 5.7's?
     
  2. Feb 14, 2020 at 11:50 AM
    #2
    TTund16

    TTund16 New Member

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    Alternators should typically last much longer. My 97 Tacoma still has the original alternator ... I assume alternator falls under 36K warranty and not the 60K. Is that right?
    Is the charging system functioning properly otherwise?
     
  3. Feb 14, 2020 at 12:05 PM
    #3
    Ronin73

    Ronin73 New Member

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    No way an alternator costs that much! A few hundred at auto parts store.
     
  4. Feb 14, 2020 at 12:47 PM
    #4
    Black Wolf

    Black Wolf Bigfoot Hunter, Sasquatch too, but not Yeti

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    Can you DIY? Alternator not easy to get to but can save a lot of $.
     
  5. Feb 14, 2020 at 2:06 PM
    #5
    triharder

    triharder Sorry, Not Sorry

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    Lots of horror stories on replacing the alternator on the 5.7L. its under the motor behind the wheels. Not easily accessible.
    The alternator for my wifes yaris was $265 bucks I'm guessing the truck would be around the same cost for parts.
    Looks like shop is assuming its a 5 to 6 hours job at $115 bucks an hour.

    My water pump went at 90k, so the alternator going doesn't surprise me. Its a wear item unfortunately.

    I'm sure you can youtube the replacement,
     
  6. Feb 14, 2020 at 2:10 PM
    #6
    codename607

    codename607 New Member

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    Would this not be covered under the power train warranty?
     
  7. Feb 14, 2020 at 2:15 PM
    #7
    triharder

    triharder Sorry, Not Sorry

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    You can buy a cheap stetescope off Amazon and listen to the alternator and other moving bearings yourself.

    I'm just guessing but i'd say the powertrain warranty would not cover the alternator. but i hope i'm wrong. (This would be seen as a wear item like brakes or a fan belt in my eyes)

    quick search and a new OEM alternator is between 250 and 300 bucks.
     
  8. Feb 14, 2020 at 7:40 PM
    #8
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    DIY isn't an issue, I do all my repairs and maintenance on my vehicles. I had just taken it in just in case it was something like the timing chain and would have been covered under powertrain. The alternator isn't covered unfortunately. What's weird is they said the unplugged the alternator and the noise went away so it's not a bearing in the alternator, the truck has not shown any signs of charging fluctuations at all. @Roman has the part for $280 and it does look like a pain to install. 52k just seems like a very short lifespan for the alternator, cam tower leak at 21k...just waiting for this Toyota reliability to kick in....
     
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  9. Feb 20, 2020 at 2:27 PM
    #9
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    Unplugged the alt and disconnected the charging lug and no change like the Tech stated, have to wait until Monday for when he is back to get a full explanation of what they did. Other then that LKQ has an alternator off a 2017 with 7k miles for $70.11 and free shipping. Probably the way to go rather then a couple hundred especially when they don't last more then 50k.
     
  10. Feb 20, 2020 at 3:02 PM
    #10
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    How loud is the whining?...Can you hear it inside the truck?...With the radio turned up? If it's still charging, I would drive it until the instruments said it wasn't keeping the battery charged. But, then, I never go to remote isolated places with no cell service. :D
     
  11. Feb 20, 2020 at 4:42 PM
    #11
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    Its not really a whining, more of like a resonance/groaning sound. Its pretty annoying, I agree could hold off but would hate to be somewhere when it decides to fully crap out. If this is even the problem, I'm going off what Toyotas tech thinks it is.
     
  12. Apr 1, 2020 at 12:35 PM
    #12
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    Update: It was the alternator, purchased one of LKQ from a 2018 with 8k miles, pain in the butt to install. But noise is gone now.
     
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  13. Apr 1, 2020 at 12:43 PM
    #13
    smslavin

    smslavin Behind a lens...

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    it's really really difficult to get to. passenger side, front wheel well. pull the flap and you'll see it. down low. this is for a 2010 but it's the best example and the alternator is in the same place.

     
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  14. Apr 1, 2020 at 1:54 PM
    #14
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    It was, I watched that video to. Buddy and me pulled it through the wheel well up and over the frame.
     
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  15. Apr 1, 2020 at 2:11 PM
    #15
    ColoradoTJ

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    I was looking at the alternator on my Lexus when changing out the water pump. That will be a fun one as well to pull (drivers side bottom).
     
  16. Apr 1, 2020 at 6:54 PM
    #16
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    Yeah Toyota doesn't make it easy at all. Check out LKQ for an alternator, only paid $62 for one with 8k miles on it.
     
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  17. Apr 1, 2020 at 6:57 PM
    #17
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    I will do just that Andrew. Thanks.

    I’m hoping my Toyota reliability continues. 120k with just wear parts.
     
  18. Apr 3, 2020 at 1:17 PM
    #18
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    I have a similar whirring/whining/groaning noise. 2017 with 70k. I bought this truck in June 2019, with certified pre-owned warranty. I'm hoping it is covered.
     
  19. Apr 3, 2020 at 8:01 PM
    #19
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    They wouldn't cover this one under the powertrain part, but if your coverage has a longer bumper to bumper with the certified coverage you might be good.
     
  20. Apr 5, 2020 at 8:43 PM
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    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    I have the 100k mile warranty, only have 70k on the clock. Just hoping they don't try to "fine print" me on this.
     
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  21. Apr 6, 2020 at 8:15 AM
    #21
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    Just dropped off truck at dealer (Frontier Toyota in Santa Clarita, CA), told her likely alternator, maybe timing chain tensioner (unlikely). More importantly, confirmed that whatever it is, it is covered. Lady responded, "yeah, you have two warranties". Thank God
     
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  22. Apr 6, 2020 at 9:06 AM
    #22
    JohnLakeman

    JohnLakeman Burning Internet Daylight

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    A recent thread was asking advice on which of three 2016-2017 trucks to buy. All were about the same price, about same low miles. One truck was a year older, but was pristine with CPO, but no maintenance history. Third truck, a year younger, no CPO, but had a fully-documented maintenance history.

    I have heard before that Toyota CPO provided an extended warranty, but I ventured no opinion because I had no first-hand experience. For myself, I would take the CPO with warranty any day over a "fully-documented" maintenance history. You did well. :thumbsup:
     
  23. Apr 6, 2020 at 10:45 AM
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    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    So just got a call from dealer. Alternator is the cause of the noise. Covered under the warranty. But apparently, the battery failed the load test and should be replaced, but is not covered. So I explained to the nice lady, the alternator, a covered item, when working charges the battery. I'm assuming as a CPO vehicle, it would have been sold to me with a fairly new battery. No way that a CPO truck battery, on its own, fails after 9 months of ownership. She's going to check. If she comes back with it still not being covered, then I'll have to pull the lawyer card...I hate doing it, seriously...but being an attorney has its benefits sometimes. She also tried to upsell me on a throttle body service. Um...no. I think I can handle a screw driver and a little carb cleaner on a rag
     
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  24. Apr 6, 2020 at 10:55 AM
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    Jernik

    Jernik New Member

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    My guess, if I read right you bought a 2017 in 2019... 2 year old battery = dealer most likely did not replace it before you bought it. Probably still the one that came from factory. I could be wrong, but I'd be surprised if they did change it out at that point.

    Best of luck to you - sucks to deal with, but when you're done there should be many more happy miles left in your truck.
     
  25. Apr 6, 2020 at 11:11 AM
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    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    Jernik - you're right. 2017 purchased in June 2019. And I agree. I'll bet it's the factory battery. Assholes.

    So they are not changing the batter, but not because of age. Apparently, the bearings in the alternator went bad (I read this somewhere else) and that's what's causing that whirring noise. But it's still charging. So alternator is getting replaced ($50 deductible). Dealer does not sell AGM's, but wouldn't have made a difference. Called A-zone, $200 for AGM (Duralast Platinum). I'll get that later this month when I pick up some carb cleaner to do the TB.

    Regardless, I'm saving about $900 with the alternator covered, and I'll feel better knowing I have a brand new AGM in there. One more thing that is now "baselined"...
     
  26. Apr 6, 2020 at 4:18 PM
    #26
    Alloutdrs1

    Alloutdrs1 [OP] New Member

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    They must of had a supplier problem in 2017 trucks with the Alternators, the one I had to replace was also making the whirring noise with only 51k on it.
     
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  27. Apr 6, 2020 at 4:27 PM
    #27
    GODZILLA

    GODZILLA Hail to the King, Baby.

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    No. Power train basically covers anything touched by oil or transmission fluid, and nothing else. An alternator is a wear item like your brakes.
     
  28. Apr 6, 2020 at 4:42 PM
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    Rockanock

    Rockanock 21 Chevy 2500

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    I bought my 17 CPO and the battery went out after less than a year. It was the factory battery too. They said they would cover it but they would have to tow the truck to the dealership. I ended up replacing my own battery. They wouldn’t let me bring the one up there. They said they would have to “test” it on the truck. I took it to oreillys and Indeed it was bad.
     
  29. Apr 6, 2020 at 8:24 PM
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    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    Again, glad they're covering the alternator. I can handle getting a new battery.
     
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  30. Apr 7, 2020 at 10:28 PM
    #30
    kevine0001

    kevine0001 New Member

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    Alternator covered. Done. Noise gone. AGM going in once “stay at home” crap ends
     

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