flanker271 Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 92 LS400, 142,753 miles... Last night when I drove home from work, I noticed that the headlights are a slightly dimmer than usual. After driving for about 8 miles from my office, my radio suddenly quits....it turned off by it self. About 2 minutes later, all the green lights on my dashboard faded out slowly. At about the same time, the "ABS" light came on. At this moment my hands are icy cold and is firmly grapping the wheel... After reaching a red light, I noticed that the engine idles at ~100-150RPM!!! Luckily, the light turned green and I accelerated. For about 5 seconds I feel no power. Then, I can finally accelerate to driving speed. At my 4th stop light I wasn't so lucky. The engine quits. I tried to restart but no luck. Luckily, I was just one block from my house....with people honking behind me, I had no choice but to call the police on my cell and it ended up with 4 officers pushing my car to my driveway with me inside doing the steering and this whole "parade" being escorted by 2 more police cruisers.....what a night! Today, I measured my battery with a voltmeter, where it reads 11.6V, which is pretty low. My friend tried to jump start my car. After the jump cable is connected, I cranked the engine and it started right up! But then, after about 2-3 minute idling, I noticed that my instrument panel fades out everytime I press the brake. After another minute or so it died again. Now here is the interesting part: I just replaced my alternator 1 month ago. My battery is less than one year old. What are some other possibilities that could be the blame for these problems? I'll have it towed to my local Toyota dealer tomorrow for inspection. I just want to be psychologically prepared for what to come. Thanks
TMaxxTim Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Sounds like a simple battery problem. I'd take it back to wherever you got it and get a new one under warranty. My bet would be that is the problem.
1UZ-FE Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 yep, exactly TMaxxTim! that is the SAME EXACT problem i had on my 94. i swore it was the altenator but my mech told me otherwise. he tested the battery and sure enough it had 2 bad cells. bought a new battery and its good as new. thank god it was a $60 repair cost rather than a ~$1000 or whatever it is for a new alternator!! the battery is your best bet ;)
TMaxxTim Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 A SC 400 I was looking at had a bad battery, this is exactly what it did, anytime anything electral put a strain on the battery the RPM's would drop. Everytime I hit the gas and dropped it (around the parking lot) the car would almost die, yet it started right up when he hooked up cables to it.
95LS400Bob Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Batterys today die strange deaths. Wasn't too many months ago the wife calls me and says the car (the caddy..not the Lexus) started fine, she went to the store and now she has no voltage..not even a dome light. Battery about a year old. Sudden death. That's the way they go.
flanker271 Posted August 31, 2004 Author Posted August 31, 2004 Thanks guys for the input. I'll let you guys know what they find tomorrow. I can't think of anything that could shorten the battery life. Perhaps if you have too many accessories on at the same time for a long time??? May be the heat in Arizona??? (My LS is black)?? Weird
dpeck Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Thanks guys for the input. I'll let you guys know what they find tomorrow. I can't think of anything that could shorten the battery life. Perhaps if you have too many accessories on at the same time for a long time??? May be the heat in Arizona??? (My LS is black)??Weird jump start car again and check voltage at battery with engine running should be a minimum of 13.5 volts if not it is your charging system. the battery should be 12.8 fully charged engine not running. and by the way heat does shorten battery life
UCF3 Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 It sounds like a bad alternator. Flank if your car can't be jump started, then you should look into an OEM alternator from the dealer. Something tells me the other one is refurbished. keep us abreast.
flanker271 Posted August 31, 2004 Author Posted August 31, 2004 Yes the current alternator is a NAPA remanufactured alternator, supposed to come with a 5 year warranty. My car is now at the Toyota dealer by the way
Lexls Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 It sounds like a bad alternator to me. The reason why I think its the alternator is because the car can run without the battery once the car has been started. It is possible that they put in an alternator with not enough amps, it needs to be 100A or more. Also if you have a power steering fluid your alternator can die extremely fast. Even a small leak. I'll be interested to hear what the dealer says.
92Lex Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 If its the alternator thats suspect you could just disconnect the battery while the motor is running....if it still runs then the alternator is still working..the battery may just not be holding the charge.
Lexusfreak Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 What type of battery do you have in the car now flank?
flanker271 Posted August 31, 2004 Author Posted August 31, 2004 Just got a call from the Toyota dealer...they said my battery is completely dead and in order to continue doing the diagnostic test they'll need my permission to change out the battery, which I said go for it. Will keep you guys informed. I can't remember exactly what brand battery it is. It has a green NASCAR sticker on it.
VBdenny Posted August 31, 2004 Posted August 31, 2004 Some batteries are just junk. Not any specific brand, just some. My neighbor !Removed!, had his battery dies. He went to Costco and put it in. Still dead. I put a meter on it and it has about 3volts. Sucker was DOA. Took it back (and the meter this time) and got a replacement. Perfect. By the way, someone mentioned about jump starting a LS400. Let me tell you, these cars are WAY hard to jump start. My wife left a light on at the Newark airport for several days and it was dead. It took the towtruck about a half an hour to jump it, then it was fine. You have to leave it connected with out trying to start for about 5 minutes. I guess this builds it up enough to let it start.
flanker271 Posted August 31, 2004 Author Posted August 31, 2004 You have to leave it connected with out trying to start for about 5 minutes. I guess this builds it up enough to let it start Hmmm It started right up on mine. The dealer found the problem: it was the alternator!!! ;) :cries: Now I have two options that I'd like to ask members to consider it for me: Since the current alternator is NAPA remanufactured, it comes with a 5 year warranty. The Toyota dealer said I can bring in the warranty to them and once they receive the new alternator from NAPA (again, remanufactured) they can install it. All I pay is the $79.99 labor fee. Or, the second option is to go with a new OEM toyota alternator. The service guy told me it'll be $269.99 plus the $79.99 labor fee. How good is the Toyota alternator? Is it worth spending the extra money to put in an OEM this time? Also, according to first generation Lexus specification, the alternator is rated at 80 amp. Do I MUST need at least a 100 amp alternator? by the way, I resealed my ps pump last year so my alternator is nice and dry :)
UCF3 Posted September 1, 2004 Posted September 1, 2004 I can't remember exactly what brand battery it is. It has a green NASCAR sticker on it. Interstate!!!!. god I hate them. The Toyota Battery should do the trick. I preffer not using the reman'd alternator. I'd say, return it, get your new one, and try getting something back by selling it on Ebay or someone you don't know(Not on this forum, please. ClubLexus is fine :P ).
flanker271 Posted September 1, 2004 Author Posted September 1, 2004 try getting something back by selling it on Ebay or someone you don't know Not a bad idea but noooooooo can't do that. <_<
VBdenny Posted September 1, 2004 Posted September 1, 2004 I had terrible luck with Interstate Batteries. I use Costco now. Cheap and great. Flanker, do you trust them enough that your alternator is bad? I never saw where you checked the voltage. It might just be a bad battery. I haven't found the dealerships diagnostics to be superior.
flanker271 Posted September 1, 2004 Author Posted September 1, 2004 Well the thing is they phoned me and told me that my current Interstate battery is dead. In order for the diagnostic to continue they have to put in a new Toyota battery. Later they phoned me and told me that the alternator "is not charging this battery properly." So I assume they ruled out the bad battery theory.
flanker271 Posted September 2, 2004 Author Posted September 2, 2004 After several negotiation attempts the previous shop finally decided to off a refund on my broken alternator. Just got my car back today with the new Toyota alternator installed. The dealer says it's the same as the one from Toyota Tundra pick up truck. Thank you guys for all your helpful inputs!
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