From: Anyolmouse@invalid.invalid   
      
   "JMc"  wrote in message   
   news:hh3m07$7cl$1@news.eternal-september.org...   
   > My 1997 4Runner with 203,000 miles has begun exhibiting a strange   
   problem   
   > that seems to be electrical.  While driving the engine stumbles, the   
   brake   
   > light on the dash comes on, then in most cases the engine catches   
   again, the   
   > brake light goes out and I drive on.  So far it has never actually   
   stalled   
   > the engine entirely, but I've lost power to a dangerous extent.  Often   
   this   
   > happens two, three, as many as six times in succession before it seems   
   to   
   > clear.  I've noticed a high-pitched small motor bearing noise from   
   under the   
   > hood at about the same time, as though a bearing in perhaps an   
   alternator or   
   > other similar sized unit is wearing out.  Ok, I understand it is an   
   old   
   > enough truck that any of these things could be normal wear and tear,   
   but it   
   > is Christmas, and a long weekend till I might get a chance to have   
   diag   
   > codes read.  I'm not even sure anything will have registered.  I am   
   most   
   > puzzled by the clear connection between the brake light and the   
   apparent   
   > electrical problem.   
   >   
   > Any ideas I might look at tomorrow, any hope that the brake light   
   indicator   
   > is just an indicator that some code is being logged?   
   >   
   > Thanks,   
   > Jere   
   >   
      
   When I had an alternator problem in my '87 PU the brake light and   
   alternator (charge) light both came on. Does the charge light come on   
   when you turn the key prior to starting the engine? Maybe the bulb is   
   burned out?   
      
   How long has it been since the alternator was replaced? 203,000 miles is   
   a long time for the original to last.   
      
   FWIW, I had the alternator freeze up in  a Chevy Lumina while doing 6o   
   mph. It stopped the engine completely and I slid off of the highway. I   
   was just outside of a small town and had some of my tools with me. So I   
   took off the serpentine belt and drove it to the only garage for miles   
   around.   
      
   --   
   We have met the enemy and he is us-- Pogo   
      
   Anyolmouse   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)