motjebben Posted May 1, 2003 Share Posted May 1, 2003 HELP! I'm having to replace my LS400 batteries WAY too often! I just replace the last one about 2 months ago, at the Lexus Dealer, with a BRAND-NEW 84 month model! The Lexus dealership indicated that the old battery had a dead cell (which acted like almost like a short - thereby draining the battery almost immediately after jump-started). This morning, on my way to work, the car's instrument panel started flickering (more than the usual 1993 cold problem - I have that too and have sent an email to Jim to ask for his solution) and then the engine sputtered and conked out! Two jump starts from others did NOT keep the car going, it had to be pushed to the side of the road. I've removed the battery and am charging it now and will attempt to put it back in the car tonight. What is causing these batteries to die so quickly?! Lexus ran the computer checks and alternator tests and pronounced the car healthy before selling me this latest battery! HELP! If the Lexus batteries are poor, I'm happy to install a different model myself. Does anyone know if I can get a prorated refund on the current battery if I turn it into another battery manufacturer besides Lexus? I appreciate your taking the time to read this post by a Lexus club newbie! I LOVE my Lexus, and am embarrassed, for the FIRST few times now when my in-laws compare my Lexus to their Infinity! I've always told them that my Lexus has been great! -Michael motjebben@mindspring.com or michael.tjebben@icverifex.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motjebben Posted May 2, 2003 Author Share Posted May 2, 2003 Well, after doing a lot of web searching, I've read that the Lexus batteries have had problems. I'm therefore going to test the alternator and regulator, and, as long as they are okay, buy an Optima battery, probably Red-Top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motjebben Posted May 2, 2003 Author Share Posted May 2, 2003 Alternator and/or regulator is bad. Though they had checked that two months ago when I had the battery replaced (the Lexus dealer indicated he had), it must have been going bad. I can tell, because after charging the battery overnight and replacing it in the car, it works great but the voltage across the terminals, when the car is running, is only 12V, instead of the 14V or so that it should be. Now I'll do some web searching to find out how difficult the 1993 LS400 alternator and regulator are to get at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddLS400 Posted May 6, 2003 Share Posted May 6, 2003 It seems like I'm getting a battery drain overnight? I just bought this car a week ago so I'm starting to figure out the kinks. I don't see any light on in the interior or anything. I just put in a new battery last Saturday. I woke up this morning and I had to put it on the charger to get it to start. Where would be a common place that would drain power? The car runs good aside from that. I NEED HELP....I don't want to be the jumper cable guy in the parking lot. :chairshot: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motjebben Posted May 6, 2003 Author Share Posted May 6, 2003 I wish I could give you advice about your battery drain! As I indicated earlier, I had just changed my battery, actually in January. It was probably about 2 years old, quite new for a battery! They tested the alternator (supposedly) and it checked out okay, but really must have been in the process of dying, as it is NOT working now. Their test just must be more of a go/no-go than a quantitative measure of resistance, etc. That's probably why they missed it. My understanding is that the 1993 LS400 power steering pump often leaks onto the alternator and destroy it. I had my pump replaced last year - I wish they had warned me about the alternator, because I DID ASK if there was ANYTHING else that ought to be replace while they were "in that area!" -Mike <_< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToddLS400 Posted May 7, 2003 Share Posted May 7, 2003 I know...I'm getting my starter replaced in a few weeks. I'm going to have all kinds of other things done well in there. Maybe get the injectors cleaned and replace the intake manifold gaskets. Always have other work around it done since the labor is minimal to none. You just pay for parts. I like to go buy my own parts anyway then bring them with me the day I'm having the other work done. It wasn't a battery drain. It's just my starter acting up in the morning. It's slowly going out. Once I get it started it doesn't give me problems starting and restarting for the rest of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted May 18, 2003 Share Posted May 18, 2003 HELP!I'm having to replace my LS400 batteries WAY too often! I just replace the last one about 2 months ago, at the Lexus Dealer, with a BRAND-NEW 84 month model! The Lexus dealership indicated that the old battery had a dead cell (which acted like almost like a short - thereby draining the battery almost immediately after jump-started). This morning, on my way to work, the car's instrument panel started flickering (more than the usual 1993 cold problem - I have that too and have sent an email to Jim to ask for his solution) and then the engine sputtered and conked out! Two jump starts from others did NOT keep the car going, it had to be pushed to the side of the road. I've removed the battery and am charging it now and will attempt to put it back in the car tonight. What is causing these batteries to die so quickly?! Lexus ran the computer checks and alternator tests and pronounced the car healthy before selling me this latest battery! HELP! If the Lexus batteries are poor, I'm happy to install a different model myself. Does anyone know if I can get a prorated refund on the current battery if I turn it into another battery manufacturer besides Lexus? I appreciate your taking the time to read this post by a Lexus club newbie! I LOVE my Lexus, and am embarrassed, for the FIRST few times now when my in-laws compare my Lexus to their Infinity! I've always told them that my Lexus has been great! -Michael motjebben@mindspring.com or michael.tjebben@icverifex.com motjebben, I have same problem with my 94 LS400 (have to push to the side of the road, instrument panel light flickerling). -Problem caused by the Alternator went bad 110,000 miles. -Alternator went bad because of Power Steering Fluid leak on top of the Alternator. -Power Steering leak is very common with all Toyota that including Lexus. Rebuid Alternator cost around $125.00 shop around from Alternator rebuild specialist (Lexus rebuild cost around $500 to 750 depend on early or late model of 94 LS400). I own both Toyota Camry 95 and Lexus 94 LS400 they both leaks powersteering oil. Friends have Toyota most they told me that Power steering leaks too. Power steering leeks usually cause by the brass ring (gasket) to tie between powersteering hose and power steering pump. Usually just need to tighten up without replace it on the big bold (this brass ring cost $6.00 from Toyota dealer). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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