Alternator and Battery Died after Getting Brakes Fixed - Advice Needed

curious101 on 03/02/2025 - 17:13
Last edited 03/02/2025 - 17:47 by 1 other user

Hi peeps, would be grateful if someone can guide me please.

I got my brakes and rotors replaced on Toyota Camry 2011, on weekend and took it out on for a drive 3 days later and all the dashboard lights were coming up and going, and finally the battery died completely. I smelled something burning as well, and thinking my alternator has died (as far as I know, car won't start and has no battery charge).

Is it coincidental that the issue occurred after brake/rotor replacement? Or the mechanic caused something unintentionally.

Thanks a lot

Automotive Alternator Battery Car Toyota

Comments

  • sam-1966 on 03/02/2025 - 17:15
    +10

    I, with absolutely no mechanical knowledge whatsoever, would suggest that it is a coincidence as I have had three Camrys and had to have alternators replaced/reconditioned on each one.

    Have been told it is a Camry thing. Other than that, they are pretty much bulletproof.

    • boomramada on 03/02/2025 - 17:19
      +2

      Plus its a 2011 car and probably done like 300k

      • sam-1966 on 03/02/2025 - 17:23

        Good point!

        • curious101 on 03/02/2025 - 17:43

          Done 150K recently.

          Thank you appreciate :)

          • boomramada on 03/02/2025 - 21:05

            @curious101: You try to say my 250k driven Lancer is better than your Camry :P

          • Daabido on 03/02/2025 - 22:19

            @curious101: There's your problem. They're not supposed to do that much quickly.

    • HeWhoKnows on 04/02/2025 - 09:22
      -2

      Agree.
      Brakes and car electrics have nothing to do with each other.
      Maybe expect more to fail??????

    • Poor Ass on 04/02/2025 - 10:04

      need a better gun

  • 1989jdm on 03/02/2025 - 17:22
    +14

    100% not related

  • Hybroid on 03/02/2025 - 17:23
    +1

    Likely coincidence but we don’t know what they did exactly. Battery might be able to be trickle charged at home with a cheap charger if you don’t want to splash out for a new one just yet. Though always better you do if life expired.

    • Murkymerv on 03/02/2025 - 19:19

      The battery is the cheap part , versus the alternator ⁉️

      • sillyhead on 04/02/2025 - 09:28
        +1

        Worth putting charge into the battery that way the vehicle can be moved if required. Also if you leave the battery at such a low voltage for a few days its guaranteed to fail as the internals of the battery will degrade beyond a serviceable level. Might be an extra $200 you have to spend.

      • Jake D on 04/02/2025 - 11:28

        price is comparable

  • Gdsamp on 03/02/2025 - 17:24
    +2

    these things happen
    an alternator will inevitably need to be replaced on a car, depending on your driving habits it may fail sooner rather than later

    • GordonD on 03/02/2025 - 18:05
      -1

      Why? What is complex about an alternator that it is likely to fail sooner rather than later?

      • Gdsamp on 03/02/2025 - 18:19
        -1

        An alternator can wear out quickly due to issues like a worn or slipping serpentine belt, excessive electrical demands from accessories, damaged wiring, poor electrical connections, oil leaks onto the alternator, faulty voltage regulators, and overheating caused by heavy electrical loads on the system

      • JIMB0 on 03/02/2025 - 21:05

        Usually the voltage regulator fails causing either too much or too little voltage.

    • jv on 03/02/2025 - 18:17
      -2

      an alternator will inevitably need to be replaced on a car

      even on a Tesla ?

      • Gdsamp on 03/02/2025 - 18:19

        electric car motors act as both a motor and an alternator

      • GordonD on 04/02/2025 - 09:54

        Yes, and that's my point. Predictions are being made that EVs will have long lives - with the possible exception of batteries - with little servicing required, because electric motors are vastly simpler machines than ICE engines. And that is true. Yet people accept it as somehow normal when the alternator fails long before the engine on their car. It shouldn't. There's nothing in it except a case with windings in it with a voltage regulator connected to them, and a magnetic rotor with bearings at each end. The equivalent, AC electric motors, last literally forever.

        • jv on 04/02/2025 - 10:09
          +1

          with the possible exception of batteries

          Which cost around $20K to replace.

        • jv on 04/02/2025 - 10:09

          Yet people accept it as somehow normal when the alternator fails

          I've never had an alternator fail in any of my cars, and that is a very long time…

        • JIMB0 on 04/02/2025 - 11:22
          +1

          They have wearing parts. The brushes and slip rings wear out eventually, as will the bearings. The voltage regulator and diode rectifier degrade with the heat under the bonnet. If they made a brushless AC alternator connected to a well cooled inverter that converts it to DC it would last forever but cost too much.

      • boomramada on 04/02/2025 - 10:19

        Yep even on Tesla, according to the dude who drove his Tesla for 1.2+ million miles, he had to replace it 14 times (Averaging around 137k (km) per motor). Which is kind of pretty poor as they aren't as cheap as Toyota Alternate or Engin lol

  • JimmyF on 03/02/2025 - 17:36
    +4

    Is it coincidental that the issue occurred after brake/rotor replacement?

    100% coincidental that your alternator died around the same time. Once this dies, the battery dies/goes flat as the alternator stops charging it.

    Toyota Camry 2011

    Pretty cheap and cheerful to get a new alternator and new battery and you'll be on the road again.

  • MS Paint on 03/02/2025 - 17:47
    +2

    Lol

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 03/02/2025 - 17:58
      +5

      Probably didn't tension the timing belt running from left front brake rotor to the alternator gubin. Easily overlooked, cooks the battery every time.

      • MS Paint on 03/02/2025 - 18:15
        +3

        That makes impedance. Cheers

  • bobbified on 03/02/2025 - 18:15
    +4

    It's not just a coincidence. The brakes power the alternator and, in the older models, also the left windscreen wiper. The new pads are probably too thick, causing the alternator to fail.
    .
    .
    .
    .
    /ignore my made-up bs. lol

    • jv on 03/02/2025 - 18:18

      The brakes power the alternator

      That is only in the newer Camry models.

      • resisting the urge on 04/02/2025 - 11:50

        True that. But on older Toyotas, just opening the bonnet can cause any plastic electrical connector within a 2000 mile radius to spontaneously explode. At any point after that, the connector can separate in service and cause catastrophic failure.

  • Wiadro on 03/02/2025 - 19:17

    sell camry buy new legs

  • Bruceflix on 03/02/2025 - 19:26

    I took my car to the Mechanic's last year to get the brakes done and he wrote my car off. Did me a huge favour in the end…
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/858868

    • Poor Ass on 04/02/2025 - 10:07

      how much ya get?

    • DazMon on 04/02/2025 - 12:16

      that thread doesn't mention the written off part does it?

      • Bruceflix on 04/02/2025 - 12:33
        +1

        Once the insurance assessor had a look it was written off. Managed to get my pioneer head out and refunded under warranty too. It was win win.

        • DazMon on 04/02/2025 - 12:39

          Thats lucky you got it out, I managed to do that once too, the repairer was close by, they gave me a short timeframe to do it.
          Another time I lost everything.
          The things we put in cars like devices etc can really add up!

  • cashless on 03/02/2025 - 23:14

    The first sign that your alternator (or voltage regulator) was failing would be the red battery light on your dashboard lighting up. If that light comes on you have only got so much time to drive on the battery alone before it discharges completely.
    If you see a red light on your dashboard, you’re in trouble. Battery light gives you limited travel.
    If the oil light comes on, stop immediately and call for a tow/help

    • MS Paint on 04/02/2025 - 07:16
      +1

      If the oil light comes on

      9 times out of 10 it's too late. The damage has just occurred.

  • pegaxs on 03/02/2025 - 23:41
    +8

    Is it coincidental that the issue occurred after brake/rotor replacement?

    JFC… was it coincidence… they replaced your brakes and now the alternator is fried… yeah, there is a huge nut that holds the steering wheel… I’m pretty sure it’s loose.

    This post literally sums up almost the every day shit I have to deal with at work… Replace gear box, brakes are now squeaky, replace tyres, brake lights stopped working. Replace radiator and rear diff explodes… Every time I hear “ever since I had it to you guys…” I automatically think… “here we (fropanity) go…”

    • freefall101 on 04/02/2025 - 01:02
      +3

      Look, ever since I read your post I ran into my neighbours fence. My car was running fine and I was perfectly sober until I read your post, drank half a bottle of whiskey and went for a drive.

      I may not understand causality, but it's clearly not my fault.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 04/02/2025 - 07:41
      +1

      O.P. should have had Uncle Ian do the job. Only issue I've had is ash from his dart getting in the carby.

    • ValueBob on 04/02/2025 - 09:21
      +1

      So right on this.
      Even though I'm an engineer and can diagnose and fix most things, I have a rule that I do not fix things for others.
      It was because of … “Ever since you touched my item … other (unrelated) shit happens …”.
      And there is no real gratitude or appreciation for the (free) effort.

  • elrotundo on 04/02/2025 - 07:37

    Coincidence - possibly battery is fine but only the alternator has died

  • Russell Dupsumtucka on 04/02/2025 - 07:54
    +1

    I had the front door of my house replaced, now my bathroom fan doesn't work. Did the carpenter do something to it?

    See how stupid your question is?

    • picklewizard on 04/02/2025 - 11:13
      +1

      Come on mate, why the aggressive attack? At least OP actually asked.

      Having done my time in an earlier life working IT Service Desk, and knowing that once you fix something, any failure in the next 12 months turns into "It DiDnT dO tHiS bEfOrE yOu FixEd iT", I have nothing but appreciation for OP checking their logic before going off half cocked.

      There's still time to delete your response :)

      • Russell Dupsumtucka on 04/02/2025 - 11:19
        -1

        There's still time to delete your response :)

        No there's not since you have replied, so maybe check comment rules.

        And asking the question means they have gone off half cocked, or maybe they are a complete cock.

        • picklewizard on 04/02/2025 - 12:00

          Maybe you're projecting. Anyway, I hope your day gets better xo

  • kanter on 04/02/2025 - 07:56

    Unrelated. It could be the belt that drives your alternator. On some models it also drives the water pump, so pretty important to stop whenever anything red shows up on your dash

  • xylarr on 04/02/2025 - 08:10

    Just thank your luck stars you don't have a euro car. Friend of mine has an oldish Audi A3. The ABS pump has died. Quoted $5800 from Audi for a new unit. Reconditioned one is half that from a third party mechanic. Still, that's nearly $3000. It's not the first thing to go wrong.

    • Poor Ass on 04/02/2025 - 10:10

      This sounds normal as for an Euro car owner

  • ThithLord on 04/02/2025 - 09:29

    They're conspiring against you, OP

  • curtturtle on 04/02/2025 - 10:29

    Could the dead battery be linked. Maybe. They might have left the door open (and interior light on) while bleeding the breaks if they do it by pressing the break to pump fluid rather than using a vacuum pump. But that is very unlikely going to lead to a dead alternator.

    My guess is that you alternator has slowly been dying and in turn the battery with it and it is completely coincidental to the breaks being done.

  • zathras on 04/02/2025 - 11:21

    It could be a coincidence, or it could be related.
    Is the alternator covered in burnt brake fluid?

    If not, it is probably a coincidence.

    • DazMon on 04/02/2025 - 12:18

      Actually yes, something similar happens in Toyota Soarer 1JZ motors. It might be coolant though.

  • DazMon on 04/02/2025 - 12:23

    Look I've done all these over the last 2 years of owning a 2007 Holden.
    And coz it was Holden I got genuine parts and copped it.
    Battery, then Alternator, then Starter Motor.
    Starter motor happened when a lot of leaks had been fixed and was taken off the hoist, click, no more starter.
    But its okay coz those last 2 items were 15 years old and I think that's a good innings?
    But yeah its not good when a Mechanic rings and asks do you want the good news or the bad news…

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