Low Mileage 2001 Es300 Blows Out Alternators

[ahjah]

:cries: I leased my 2001 ES300 NEW in the State of Washington. In 2003, before relocating from Washington to Texas, my ES300 was recertified and I purchased it. Now I'm having battery and alternator problems. Since June 7, 2005 my mechanic has replaced the battery twice (Interstate Batteries) and replaced the alternator 4 times (Lexus Premium Alternators). He has conferenced with Lexus and a Forum for Foreign Cars and no one seems to know what's causing the alternator and battery failures. Monday, this week, I picked up my car after the 3rd NEW alternator was installed. Two days later, my car was back in for a 4th alternator!! Including the original alternator and battery, my car has been through 3 batteries and 5 alternators.

I'm retired and don't put many miles on the car. To date, it has about 30,000 miles. I read - on this forum - the theory of low mileage Lexus cars having alternator/battery problems and the need to drive the cars more frequently. Well, my mechanic and the shop owner don't buy into this theory. They feel that something is spiking out the alternator. They have checked cables, wires, connectors. Has anyone heard of this problem and found a solution? I need a dependable car ... maybe I should trade this car for a Chevy! Please Help! Verna

[camlex]

Hello,

Welcome to Houston and Forum. This is not good news, and i'm sorry to hear this. When you were in Washington from 2001-2003, did you have any problems? How many miles did you use to drive per day? After you moved to Houston, how many miles are you driving now? Because I don't think that alternator, battery has anything to do with the numbers of miles you drive. I have a 2001 Volkswagon Jetta and has only 24000 miles and still the original battery and alternator. I think you have an electrical problem. Hope this helps.

Thanks

[SKperformance]

Good first post, i am glad you searched to get a overall veiw ,but i think you are right and the post you are referring to has nothign to do with your problems.

I would get one of the alternators that died to be checked by a starter/alternator rebuild shop. They can give you an exact cause of its death. As it is not going to be windings rotor or brushes that fail in short time. It is going to be elctronics that fail ,so which one needs to be established as the root . Then you can trace it back for where it originates .

The battery may just be that the alternator cannot charge it and it dies from low volatage.

You almost need a volt meter to monitor the volatage when you drive to look for actual spike and dips to be able to start replicating the exact issue and resolve it.

You may have a splash sheild missing from under the car causing lots of water to wash the alternator frying it.

[Toysrme]

Welp, something's shorting, or drawing waaaay too mcuh load somewhere.

Start by load testing both the battery & alternator.

If that doesn't show simply another faulty alternator, it's more than likely the lead wire going from the alternator to the charging system to the battery. Grab some 4 gauge, or larger, electrical wiring from a generic amplifier/subwoofer install kit.

Upgrade "The Big Three" wires on the car.

#1 Alternator to Battery (positive)

#2 Battery to car body (ground)

#3 Engine to body (ground)

The kit will come with an in-line fuse. If you're smart, you'll buy the size fuse to match the alt's maximum output! (80amp, so an 80/90 amp fuse)

Most generic kits cost $20-30.

If you replace the wiring (which I think you need to do), and the SOB fails you one more time (Or is already gone), the Highlander has an optional 130amp alt that drops into 92-01 Camry/ES's.

130amps peak > 80 amps peak.

130amp alt makes more power at lower rpm also.

[G and C Johnstone]

How very distressing.

An alternator could do itself to death if there was a bad connection between it and the battery. It might be a good idea to replace the cables including ground wires. It is difficult to immagine a bad cable that is not screaming hear I am with smoke and splatter but that is what it sounds like to me. When the cables are out of the car if they have been the problem you will find one all but broken off inside its insulation somewhere along its length.

G

[ahjah]

:cries:  I leased my 2001 ES300 NEW in the State of Washington.  In 2003, before relocating from Washington to Texas, my ES300 was recertified and I  purchased it. Now I'm having battery and alternator problems.  Since June 7, 2005 my mechanic has replaced the battery twice (Interstate Batteries) and replaced the alternator 4 times (Lexus Premium Alternators).  He has conferenced with Lexus and a Forum for Foreign Cars and no one seems to know what's causing the alternator and battery failures.  Monday, this week, I picked up my car after the 3rd NEW alternator was installed.  Two days later, my car was back in for a 4th alternator!! Including the original alternator and battery, my car has been through 3 batteries and 5 alternators.

I'm retired and don't put many miles on the car.  To date, it has about 30,000 miles.  I read - on this forum - the theory of low mileage Lexus cars having alternator/battery problems and the need to drive the cars more frequently.  Well, my mechanic and the shop owner don't buy into this theory.  They feel that something is spiking out the alternator.  They have checked cables, wires, connectors.  Has anyone heard of this problem and found a solution?  I need a dependable car  ... maybe I should trade this car for a Chevy!  Please Help!    Verna

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[ahjah]

Thanks all. This AM, I sent this entire discussion thread to my Service Advisor. He is currently forwarding your input to the mechanics.

At this point, another Lexus alternator is being ordered – the 5th alternator. The Service Advisor will drive and observe my car for a few days before returning it to me.

Camlet --Below are responses to your question:

In Washington State, I drove the Lexus 20 to 120 miles a week or average of 70 miles a week (gas up 1-2 times a month). In Texas I’m driving an average of 25 miles a week (gas up once a month). I don’t like driving and choose to live new the places I volunteer, work, and worship.

I’VE ONE FOLLOWUP QUESTION: (If this question seems like a “total female question, please forgive.) The first 4 responses to my post indicate the problem as electrical. Well, my car cables & wires have been load tested, multiple times. Can faulty wiring pass a load test?

There are a ton of relatives, acquaintances and even my warranty company & and mechanics curious about this Lexus problem. Most think it’ll be a simple electrical problem. It’s a pain being stranded, with a stalled car, in the Houston Area heat. During the recent hurricane evacuation, I was stranded on I-45 (100+ heat index)! I found that ALTERNATORS IN MY CAR DON’T CHARGE IN AN IDLE STATE! But I haven’t found the cause. Thanks again to all. Verna

[SKperformance]

When you have your alternators replaced are they exchanging the pulley from the old and adding it to the new one or a complete assembly?As in 97 they made a smaller pulley to increase the output of the alternator at idle.

Also there is a higher amp output alternator in the highlander .

I still say you need the alternator diagnoised in its death before you can know what is wrong other than replacing dead parts.

[Toysrme]

Good call SK.

[ahjah]

When you have your alternators replaced are they exchanging the pulley from the old and adding it to the new one or a complete assembly?As in 97 they made a smaller pulley to increase the output of the alternator at idle.

Also there is a higher amp output alternator in the highlander .

I still say you need the alternator diagnoised in its death before you can know what is wrong other than replacing dead parts.

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SK;

Since my car is a 2001 model, is the '97 pulley change applicable?

Verna

[SKperformance]

All depends on where the replacments come from and if someone rebuilding them notices.

[ahjah]

All depends on where the replacments come from and if someone rebuilding them notices.

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Thanks SK.

Well, the Service Advisor says he was aware of the pulley change and has been ordering new replacement alternators straight from Lexus. After installing the 5th alternator, he wanted the car to sit for one day without starting. Today he drove it -- no report yet.

Nonetheless, when I pick up the car this week, I'm throwing in the towel and heading straight to a dealership to replace this sick puppy!

Regards to all. Verna

[SKperformance]

I hope they fix it if they would actually troubleshoot it properly.

I love the 01 especially black on black.

Texas is so farrrr.

[ahjah]

I hope they fix it if they would actually troubleshoot it properly.

I love the 01 especially black on black.

Texas is so farrrr.

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Yep, the black on black 2001 ES300 is a beautiful car. Its too bad that today's mechanics don't trouble shoot -- they have packaged electronic components at their disposal.

I just received a call from the President of the Automotive Company who says that the NEW alternative installed -- this time -- is an NEW ACURA alternator and not a Lexus alternator. and he ate the cost difference. Well, I still don't trust the car and won't be stalled out in the Texas heat again! I'll pick it up today but have made plans to replace the beauty by the end of the week!