I did this same job last summer.

All those lights were on, belt was fine, but only 7 volts where it mattered, so the alternator was definitely cream-crakered.

It is a bit of a pain to take the alternator out, so I did away with the air conditioning at the same time, because I never used it, but I would still reckon it would be easier taking the compressor off to get the alternator out than trying to go up the way.

There are 4 long bolts hold the compressor onto that casting it sits on.

You just swing the compressor out of the way carefully and suspend it on coat-hanger wire or something

(the pipes are flexible) until you're ready to put it all back together.

One thing I really like on the SC is the set-up for the idler pulley, much easier to get the right tension on the belt than with the N/A car IMHO.

If you are taking the A/C out you need a shorter belt obviously and it isn't a common size, but I found one after 2 days hunting the factors.

Turned out the rectifier was knackered and one coil needed re-wound and that was

£65

(inc VAT) from a local place in Belfast and it came back like new.

According to Hurst's Toyota in Belfast, there are none of the original alternators available new any more, but there seems to be no problem getting them refurbished and the spark who worked on mine said there are several alternatives for the voltage regulator that shouldn't cost more than

£20 from a scrapyard if that ever goes.
