Alternator went on my Corolla went
First I discovered was that the radio went dead. Then when I pulled over to find out what was wrong, the car wouldn't start.

Eventually bump-started it down a hill and headed for home. By the time I got to town (about 40 miles later) it was getting dark, and the car had NO electrics. No lights, indicators, horn, nothing. Corners and roundabouts caused the engine to splutter and threaten to stall. Anyway, got to the house, and (with the engine still running) nipped in to grab a multimeter and see just how much was left in the battery.

And that's how I know that a 1986 Toyota Corolla can run on THREE AND A HALF VOLTS.

Turned out that the alternator plug was halfway out. Not enough to illuminate the battery warning on the dash, but enough to stop it charging. An overnight charge and a push of the plug, job done.
( eXOBeX, Thu 26 Aug 2010, 0:23, Reply)