QuestionHi,
I have a 98 MR2 SW20, Japanese beams redtop engine model. Approx. 140,000 klms and has been sitting idle while away traveling for some time.
I have had some electrical issues with it since I'm home, and have had no luck with getting it running correctly. Initially I put the problem down to useless battery, so it was replaced. this didn't seem to help so I had a local Auto-Electrician have a look and he advised on replacing the alternator. I replaced this with a brand new unit, and the car was running, although it was idling at around 2,000 constantly. The ABS light is always on on the dash as well. Then if taken for a short drive with engine running rich, eventually (10/15 mins), the radio would begin to cut in and out, lights on the dash would go faint, and then end up with the car coming to a complete stop. If I turned hazards on or anything electrical, stuff begins to go crazy, wipers go them selves, lights go up and down opposite (one up, one down kinda thing) an rev and speedometer arms go up and down to the hazard flashes.
After talking to my Auto-Electrician, he said the new alternator may be faulty, so I took it out, and brought it back to the store. They tested the unit in front of me, and it came up fine. So I was in a dilemma, my auto-electrician hadn't a clue, and neither had I.
I decided to bring the car to the Toyota dealer in the city for a diagnostics. This is what they came back to me with;
Alternator needs to be replaced. - I gave them the reply that I had fitted a new one only recently.
They called back an hour later to say the wiring to the alternator had a problem, and needed to be repaired or replaced. But I didn't give them the go ahead to do this work, as the cost was massive for the labor, and there was no guarantee it would be found quickly. I told them I would take it away and bring it to another auto-electrician with the hope they would get to the bottom of it with the new information from the Toyota dealer.
The next day I received a phone call again from the dealers service department, and they said they have found the problem (even though I told them I was taking the car away and having the work done elsewhere? They kept on looking for the issue?) Anyway, they said the problem was the ABS ECU, and that the unit needs to be replaced, at the cost of €1000 including labor.I can't justify paying that much to repair it, I'm on a budget.
Have you guys got any suggestions as what I can do. I have looked at ABS ECU's on ebay and found them much cheaper. Are they easy to fit myself? Is this even the problem? Or is it possibly a wiring problem to the alternator, or what about an earthing problem? Your help would be unbelievably appreciated, you have no idea how much this has driven me mad!!! Thanks!
AnswerI would be more inclined to believe that there is a wiring problem, I would have the electrician check the alternator wiring, fuse box, connections etc before replacing an expensive part, even though the abs light is on, I have never seen an abs computer cause this of an electrical problem.
